October 26 Phase II Day 32 Malibu to Huntington Beach (65 miles)

Best of Day:  Great paths around and through the beaches of Los Angeles! 

 

Worst of Day:  Riding the streets through the non-beach areas of Los Angeles!


Quote of Day:  Kirby said today, "Now I understand why WomanTours doesn't include this section in their Pacific Coast tour!!!"

October 25 Phase II Day 31 Ventura CA to Malibu CA (48.8 miles)

Best of Day:  Instructions from our new SAG driver (Jeff Fouse) as we start the first of our extended five days to the border  (See Picture taken by Sheila in front of hotel in Ventura),

 Pacific coastal highway beauty continues with added bonus of kite surfing (See Picture).
 

Worst of Day:  Not just one flat, but two flats just 15 miles out of Ventura!   (See Picture)

Quote of Day:  Jeff needed find a bike shop to replenish tubes and obtain floor pump AND drive to where we were changing the tires.  He has surpassed the demands of any "first day SAG driver day"  and obtained the title of "Senior SAG Manager, First Class!"

October 24 Day 30 End of Phase I (Organized Bike Tour Bellingham WA to Ventura CA --1600 miles and 70,000 feet of elevation) and beginning of Phase II (Ventura CA to Imperial Beach CA)

Best of Day:  Recovery day in Ventura with beautiful weather and time to reorganize ourselves for the remainder of our biking journey to the "border."  Spent time (mapping) with two other groups of cyclists who will also be biking to the Mexico/U.S. border.  Kirby's husband Jeff Foust has arrived from Chicago to be our SAG driver and support person!!

Worst of Day:  Saying good bye to many many good friends we made on the first part of our trip.  The WomanTours van left at 8 a.m. to shuttle many riders to the LAX airport. (see pictures).

Quote of Day: Departing mantra "See you later down the road!"

October 23 Day 29 Lompoc CA to Ventura CA (86 miles)

Best of day:  Sunshine and tail winds!  Last day of organized tour!  Riding through UCSB campus on bike trail!  Celebration Banquet!  Some of us rode to Santa Barbara (55 miles) (see picture) then took Amtrak train (30 miles) to Ventura!!!

Worst of day:  When we got to coffee shop (in Santa Barbara) their espresso machine was down!


Quote of day:  We asked direction while in Santa Barbara.  The woman we asked wanted to know where we were from.  When we said we had come from Bellingham WA, she said "On those?!" (pointing to our bikes).

October 22 Day 28 Arroyo Grande, CA to Lompac, CA (46 miles)

Today we totaled 1500 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best of day:  Wow, our last "official" map meeting!  (see pictures)

Worst of day:  Wondering how we are all going to make the 84 miles to Ventura tomorrow in time for banquet (bus, bike, train......?????)

 

Quote of day:  Sheila asked Michelle and Cy if they "could officially end the tour in Santa Barbara!!??"

October 21 Day 27 San Simeon, CA to Arroyo Grande, CA (56 miles)

Best of day:  Short day with time for great coffee break

Worst of day:  Thinking on it.....

Quote of day:  Gentleman in a town we were riding through asked if we were on a "chick ride"?!  We said, even better...a 30 day "chick tour"!

October 20 Day 26 Big Sur, CA to San Simeon, CA (67 miles)

Best of Day:  No rain but lots of fog, dramatic views (see picture), Elephant seals (see picture)

Worst of Day:  Total elevation today was 4460 feet (and San Simeon, is 60 feet above sea level!!)

Quote of Day:  The word of the day was "undulating," which is often used by Cy during map meetings!