Boy, you may have to look pretty hard to find a better day to ride than today...and we've had some pretty great days so far on this ride.  Today started out cool but before long it started to warm up with sunny skies...great conditions all afternoon.  During the stretch on the 17 Mile Drive we picked up traces of headwinds around the bay but we were in and out of the protection of the hills and trees which made the winds a non factor. 

We pulled out at daybreak because of all the sightseeing places we were riding by today and we had a remote breakfast.  We loaded at 7:00...some ate at the motel and got on the road while others rode to Jeffries; a nice place on route.  Today's route only 72 miles, but lots of things to do along the way caused everyone to doodle around quite a bit. 

Our route today was pretty interesting...first we were in urban riding conditions for 12 or so miles, then we were smack out into some of the richest farm land in the country.  I remember the first time I got to California, I was really surprised at how much dairy and crop farming there was out here.  If you just read travel manuals, all you see when you are back east are places like Yosemite, L.A., San Francisco and the like.  But California is rich in agriculture and they can grow just about anything if they can get water to the land.  Today we saw unusual crops for a cotton/corn/soybean loving southern boy...things like artichokes, onions, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, strawberries, and cabbage.  And we seem to be right in the middle of harvest with workers filling the fields and striping the plants of their wares.  Cabbage and lettuce seemed to be the crops of choice today as far as harvest goes.  I'd like to know how many heads of lettuce they pack an hour.  I watched them for several minutes and from the time a head was picked up, it never stopped until it was packaged...quite impressive, but hard work to say the least.  Several riders mentioned that watching the laborers work the fields made their back hurt.  Many of the crops out here are harvested the old fashioned way...bend over and pick the fruit one at a time...ouch.

After a tour through the farm land, the riders entered a long bike path that took them through Fort Ord and to Cannery Row in Monterey.  From there they entered 17 Mile Drive, a beautiful tour along the coastline where some the more famous golf courses (Pebble Beach, Cyprus Point, and Spyglass) and some high rent dwellings coexist.  This stretch may be the most beautiful area on the entire route.  I know I can never get enough of the ocean cascading over the jagged rocks along the shoreline.  It seemed that every rock that was protruding out of the water either had a bird perched on it or a seal basking in the sun. 

Finally, it was a push downwind over one final climb before arriving at the motel in Carmel Valley.  Our motel is a converted horse stable...but it is really a nice place with lots of ambiance.  One nice touch was a hand made ABB welcome sign at the front entrance and two bikes hanging in the lobby...just a nice friendly place out in the middle of nowhere.  We shuttled to a great Mexican restaurant for a hearty meal...only 7 more days of riding, but we need to tank up for a good climb out of the motel tomorrow.

Tomorrow was our signature day of 111 miles over a couple good climbs before we start down to the valley.  But this year we broke it up and will stop in King City which is about half way.  It will be a new place and a lot easier day.  None-the-less, we have a long climb out of the motel that will still give us a little challenge.  Looking forward to another great riding day and the weather looks great again.  We won't see the ocean tomorrow, but it will be interesting.  See you then.