June 26th - Home Sweet home!

June 26th - Home Sweet home!

I am finally home! I got in this morning about 2:30, and was happy to see Molly and my own house. There is always a relief once you're actually home and off the road after a long trip. Although you always wish you could keep traveling, there is something nice and reassuring about that moment you step foot back into your comfortable life. Anyway I am back, I picked up the Jack dog this morning from my friends Brad and Jamie, who took care of him while I was gone, and am excited to just relax for a day or two before I get back into the swing of things. Here's me and Jack, he's so excited that I am finally home!! By the way, thank you so much Brad and Jamie for taking such great care of Jack, I know he loves to be at your house, so thanks again!!

Day 32 June 25th

Day 32 June 25^th

So today was the last day of the trip and I don’t have many pictures to share, but here’s what we did. Most of the day we helped Mel set up cameras to take 2 weeks of time lapse photos at the fairgrounds, which if they turn out will be amazing to see the difference from before to after and other than that I packed my bike, shipped it FedEx for 35 bucks, and ate dinner at Whole Foods before I had to head to the airport. As I said before, the end of the trip comes with mixed emotions, I wish I was continuing, but at the same time I am happy to be done and headed home. I guess there’s always the next trip! Anyway here is Mel and Rob on the man lift getting the second camera into place.

Thanks again to everyone for watching me and Molly on this journey, and stay tuned to Ronto’s Folly for more thoughts from the road, more pictures and videos, and of course our next folly which is always right around the corner!!

Day 31 June 24th

Day 31 June 24^th

Well there was no more riding to do so today was just a play day. Mel, Rob and I all got some errands done in the morning, and by the afternoon we were at the beach. We pulled out Rob’s kayak and surfboard and hit the waves. There is not much to say today, just a bunch of pictures, but I will say that although I am happy to have made it, it’s bittersweet that the trip is over and that tomorrow I won’t be on the bike. Anyway, here are the amazing pictures that Mel our personal photographer was able to capture!

Comments

Andrea I am back in Fort Collins, I got in about 2:3o this morning!! I hope all is well in Mantana, call me when you get a chance.

Comments

Nation, I knew the name of the team before I even left, "Team Paul!" With my new macho legs I can jump 6 feet higher so maybe you'll be setting me all summer?!

From the Road - Loners

From the Road - Loners

So the past week I have ridden in isolation, Molly left in San Francisco and I was able to keep heading south, however by myself with only my thoughts. A few years ago I lived abroad for about 10 months, half of which I was with my best friend and brother Rob, the other half I was on my own. I learned a lot about myself and what thoughts appear when you have no one else to constantly distract yourself with. Many of my friends in Spain thought of me as a loner, which I think comes with a negative connotation. I liked to be with friends, but the rest of my days I spent alone, walking the city, jogging, or reading a book in a tiny café. I am bringing all this up because I am once again alone, and although here everyone speaks English and I am running into more people that want to know about what I am doing than the past 3 weeks together, it has reminded me of those times where I was isolated. I only bring it up because I want to dispel the myth that loners are odd or deviant, which many think to be the case. Loners are simply people who can be alone, without real interaction, and still enjoy their life, and by real I don’t mean the small chat at the grocery with the cashier.

The past few years I have fed off the constant attention of those around me, living in a place with many friends and social distractions, and although that is normal and alright, I still seem to utterly enjoy this time alone. Don’t twist my words here, I loved being on this trip with Molly, I wish she was still here, and in a sense we were both alone although together, but what I am saying is there is a lot of value in finding time every day to think to yourself. Now it helps to really find these thoughts by being forced to, as well as being in an amazing place like riding your bike down the sunny coast of California, but never the less, they are thoughts that only arise once you have no one else to talk to. I think that’s what sets loners apart; they are comfortable with their thoughts, and the sounds and noises around them. I know that anyone that knows me is reading this and cannot believe my words, most would say I talk to much, or never quite talking, but there is a side here that is at home. There is a lot you learn about your life and yourself when you have nothing but time to contemplate everything that occurs in front of you. Bike touring is amazing because the scenery is always changing, but at a very slow pace. You can pass a sight, or smell, or sound and think about it, and even turn your head back to experience it all over again. These isolated experiences are unique ones in which no one else has experienced the exact same thing at that moment in time, and this allows you to see the world from your eyes and your point of view alone.

I guess the whole point of this thought is that there is a value to these moments when we are alone, and that although some would say happiness is only real when shared, we all need to know that we can find that happiness within, to share with those around us. So next time you find yourself alone, take a look around and you may notice amazing things that you have never noticed before.

Day 30 June 23rd - The Border

Day 30 June 23^rd

Stats: 21.94 Miles, 2:01 Hours, 10.8 MPH Average, 29.4 MPH Top Speed, 70’s and mix of ocean fog and sun.

So today was the last day of biking for the trip, the short ride from Mel and Rob’s house in San Diego to the Mexican border. Although the ride was only 20 miles long, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and actually a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Although I wish the trip was just starting, it’s a great feeling to be able to relax and not have to worry about the road. This trip has been so amazing, every day was filled with excitement and awe, and although our bodies were hurt and tired there was never a day that I didn’t want to climb on my bike and pedal. I cannot believe I am actually done, and I cannot wait to do it all over again sometime down the road!

Of course the day ended at Happy Hour! From left to right that's Rob, Mel, Theresa, and me!

Comments

Todd and Mrs. Castor, thanks again for keeping an eye out for me, the trip is going great and is almost over, stay tuned for the pictures from the border!!

Day 29 June 22nd

Day 29 June 22^nd

Stats: 65.65 Miles, 5:34 Hours, 11.7 MPH Average, 31.7 MPH Top Speed, 80’s and Sunny.

I got up in San Clemente and started with an easy morning ride down the coast and through Camp Pendleton marine base to Del Mar.

There was a bike path the whole 40 miles, and throughout the morning I saw hundreds of other bikers, none that were on tour however! I few I chatted with and they were amazed that I had come so far, others just whizzed by in their fancy outfits with their expensive bikes. I kept getting the feeling that some of the bikers resented that I was in their way on their Sunday ride, trudging along at my slow 11 MPH, so I made a vow to myself that the next pack of roadies wouldn’t just zoom by me so easily. Roadies by the way is biker slang for road bikers, but I use it to describe those that wear matching unitards and call their sunglasses shields, many of them have this attitude that if you don’t have the good looking gear and a smooth bike you’re a joke. Well as the next pack arrived on my tail I hit the gas, touring bags, sandals, shorts, sun glasses, no shirt, scratched and squeaky bike, towel flapping off my rear stack and all, and rode with them for over 10 miles. Every time they would look back in their little mirrors and see I was still with them they would get out of their saddle and pedal harder. To no avail though because I was always ready, I had 28 long days behind me and could out pedal every one of them with or without all my gear. It was fun toying with them, and before I knew it I was in Del Mar and I was forced to give them their relief and break away from the pack.

I stopped in Del Mar because Mel and Rob were there working at the county fair. We got to hang out a bit and relax and it was so great to finally see some familiar faces. The trips end was actually in sight now and there was a bit of relief to knowing that tonight I didn’t have set up my tent. I left Del Mar and pushed out the last 25 miles of the day down to San Diego to Mel and Rob’s house.

The short journey took me through some cool little beach towns just north of the city and despite all the traffic I was able to make it to the house just as Mel and Rob rolled up. We ran some errands together, ate In-And-Out Burger, and relaxed, finally I was there, San Diego, it seemed so far away and finally after 29 long days I had made it. Now all I have left is a short 15 miles to the border and my riding for this trip is over!

Day 28 June 21st

Day 28 June 21^st

Stats: 19.07 Miles, 1:49 Hours, 10.1 MPH Average, 18.9 MPH Top Speed, Hot and Sunny.

Today I was awoken by a passing train that seemed to be in my tent with me. I guess what I didn’t realize last night was that the hiker biker site was only yards from the tracks. Anyway, I was up early due to the noise and started to think about how taking a train through L.A. to the south side of the city would save me from an exhausting day of city riding and the possibility of me ending up in some shady part of town. Plus all I had left was my New Belgium jersey which is blue and red, so I didn’t know which gangs would be alright with me riding through their territory. So I packed up and rode into town to the train station and saw that there was a train headed the exact direction I wanted to go due in at 9:37, so I milled around town, stopped at a coffee shop to use the internet and before I knew it I was hopping on the train, bike and all!!

It cost me 24 dollars to ride through the city, which was a bargain considering the headache navigating L.A. would have been, plus my bike was stowed safely and for free! Anyway I ended my ride in San Juan Capistrano which although was a bit further than I had planned on going ended up being a treat. San Juan was founded in 1776 by the Spanish and to this day there are still ruins from the original mission that tourists can meander through.

I rode around the historic district of this Spanish town, had a look at the mission, and felt transported back to the old country. From San Juan I rode an easy 20 miles to San Clemente, and set up camp. Since I had such a short day I had time to get in some body surfing in the huge waves of sourthern California, bike back into town for some tasty pizza, and relax with some other campers in the park. All in all it was a great day, I was able to take it easy after my record setting day yesterday, get out of the heat, and avoid the craziness that is L.A.

From The Road

From The Road

So until now this blog has primarily been a travel journal with little to no insight on the thoughts that go through ones head, well for the rest of the journey and continuing once I get back to Fort Collins I hope to be adding more thoughts from someone on the road. Trips like these bring out a lot of insights, and ideas about ones life, and I want to share the ones that I am experiencing. Please feel free to share your stories from the road too, I would love to hear them!!

Some of the topics I will post this week are on loners, capes and inland routes, routines, gear picks, simplicity, and advice from the road! So stay tuned as the journey is coming to an end and the real thoughts about the trip start to come out!

Day 27 June 20th

Day 27 June 20^th

(It was so hot RV's were melting!!)

Stats: 108.01 Miles, 9:35 Hours, 11.2 MPH Average, 46.5 MPH Top Speed, Hot and sunny, temps were in the 120’s most of the day until I finally got back to the coast!

Well I figured last night that it is just about the longest day of the year tomorrow so I should get up early again and go for the 100 miles mark for a second time, since I was so close yesterday. So today I was up and on the road about 10 to 6, and heading south as the sun was rising to my left. Of course, with all the good intention I was stopped about 5 miles into my ride with the trips first flat.

usually keep a pretty good eye out for sharp things on the road, but I ended up running over a staple and instantly the air was gone. So I laid my bike down, pulled my wheel off, fixed the flat, and 20 minutes later was back on the bike.

Although it didn’t slow me down too much, I still felt like I had lost my super early start and that there was a bad omen trying to keep me from going the distance. I trudged on, and as the route headed way inland temperatures began to soar! By 9 it was already 95 degrees. Southern California is having record heat by the way; it has been hotter here in the past two days than it has been for over a decade. Anyway by the time lunch was over it was into the 120 category, I kid you not. To make it even more fun, there was a 13.5 mile hill to tackle, with little to no shade, in this unbelievable heat. I am not one to complain much about conditions, I didn’t even mind the rain, but 122 degrees is crazy, Satan himself couldn’t live here! Oh ya the hill, normally a long hill on this trip was between 3 and 5 miles at most, so 13.5 blew all of those out of the water.

But I kept on going, drinking my hot water and knowing I could make it to south of Santa Barbara. And I did, I rolled in here at my campsite by 7:30, showered all the days sweat off, and was happy to once again be by the coast, where temperatures were back to livable conditions. So not only was today the longest of the trip, but it was the longest I have ever done, the hottest day of my life, and contained the longest hill on the coast, so all in all, a pretty great day. One last thing, I was able to go 46.5 MPH, which was also the fastest of the trip! Now I am here sitting by the beach, watching the sun set and getting ready to pass out after a long day.

(There it is, 108 miles, 9:35 hours, 46.5 MPH top speed, and 11.2 MPH average!)

Day 26 June 19th

Day 26 June 19^th

(This is actually from last night, great sunset though!)

Stats: 95.69 Miles, 8:09 Hours, 11.7 MPH Average, 38 MPH Top Speed, low 100’s and super sunny!

I forgot to mention my new friend Asher, who at 17 and just a senior in high school is riding from San Francisco to San Luis Obisbo. Keep riding Asher, your doing the right thing!!

Well I got up early today to go for the big 100 mile mark, and things started off rough. I drank some of the campgrounds water last night, which I think was not potable, and woke up with a bit of a stomach ach, to top that off the air was warm and heavy with the smell of fire. My tent was even covered in ash when I awoke, and to add to that I still had the last two hills of the Big Sur to ride through. Either way I got on my bike and was on the road by 6:45.

The miles flew by, and the hills turned out to be fairly easy. I finished the hill section, and started the long flat journey to Morro Bay, which is where I got to see my first colony of elephant seals.

There they were, just fighting and sunning just a few feet from me, and other than the stink it was an amazing sight. The rest of the day rolled on smoothly, I was even told about a less hilly way to my destination which was great. However the less hilly way was also 5 miles shorter than the route I picked, so even though it was nice to cut some miles off I was not able to reach the goal of 100 miles in one day.

Another time I guess. Anyway, I am just south of Pismo Beach, a sand dune Mecca for ATV’ers, and have a great camp spot walking distance from the ocean, so… So long for now, I am going to hit the surf and cool off a bit.