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DAY 19
The Nina, The Pinta, and the Santa Maria

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ROUTE: Paso Robles to Santa Maria CA DISTANCE: 80 Miles WINDS: NW 6-13, cross midday and tail for the final 10 miles
WEATHER: Sunny and warm...cool near the SAGs...50 at departure, low 80s inland, 60s near the coast TERRAIN: Hilly for the first half, then flat with one grunt hill after the last SAG TOTAL CLIMBING: 2852 Feet

DAILY REPORT: 

Everyone was in a pretty good state of mind this morning after such a tough day yesterday.  Why not?  They should have been proud of their accomplishment.  We loaded a little later than usual which was appreciated as everyone got in a little extra recovery time before grinding out another 80 miles today.  After yesterday, today was scheduled to be a piece of cake...and it held pretty true as there wasn't nearly as much climbing and what we did have was less taxing (except for one punch up a 17% grade).  Plus, we had some nice tailwinds by the end of the day that made the pedaling much easier...an 80 mile recovery day.

We loaded at 7:30 and our first challenge was a 50 yard bump over the highway about a block from the motel...ouch...after yesterday even that little bump was a leg waker-upper.  But everyone got over it and was well on their way to another day's adventures.  It only took us about 2 miles before we were out in the country with beautiful rolling hills to feast our eyes as we rode along.  Last year this portion was in a heavy fog when we departed so it was all new to the staff as it was to the riders.

After wallering around for several miles in rolling terrain, our route took us over the mountain range that stood between us and the coast at Morro Bay.  The climb was not too steep and even with the tired legs, everyone got over it without much problem...then the reward!  The next 10 miles were downhill to the coast where our first SAG was set up in Morro Bay...right beside a great bakery with many different fruity delights for even the most fickle biker's pallet. 

Tom commented that the downhill before the SAG was the best descent he's had in a long time...long, windy road with a smooth surface...you just couldn't ask for a better trip down the mountain.  From there we shot back out into the dry hills then into another stretch of fertile farm land along hwy 1.  We passed through San Luis Obispo making our way to our second SAG in Pismo Beach.

As I said before, the terrain was mostly tame compared to the past two days.  But after the second SAG we encountered a short, nasty punch up a 17% grade to get to hwy 1 just past Ocenao.  It was only 0.3 of a mile long, but it rose up out of the farm land abruptly enough to remind our legs that they still had some work to do before getting to the motel.  I was riding with Boaz after the last SAG and got the photo of him as we were almost to the top of the hill...even as steep as it was, he was making it look easy...Ahhhh, youth.  But even that climb was rewarded with a nice downhill into the final 15 miles that were dead flat all the way to the motel...and we had a great tailwind to push us along. 

All in all it was a pretty nice day.  Everyone commented on how much better they felt today and how it was nice to have a recovery day after such a long day yesterday.  I asked them if they'd ever thought of an 80 mile day as a "recovery day" before.  Wait till tomorrow...we only have 38!  A couple of the riders are afraid that we have the short mileage due to a lot of climbing, but it's pretty tame and that's just where they built the next town with motels.  And who would want to miss Solvang...there's lots to do and we're anxious to get there...I think an afternoon of wine tasting should be in order.  We've planned a late start, but we'll be there before the continental breakfast is put away at our next motel.  Check back, we should have some good tales to tell.  See you tomorrow.  M
HEARD DURING THE DAY:

"I didn't know we were going to be so close to the ocean today."
"We're in Morro Bay!  They usually don't put a town with Bay in the name up in the mountains."
"I've got to get out more."

"This was the easiest day so far."

"Do you want to go check out the texture of the pastries at the bakery?"

"How's your legs this morning?"
"Don't know, can't feel them."

"Hill?  What hill?  I didn't see any hill."

"I really enjoyed that screaming downhill, Karen didn't tell us about that one."
"Glad you enjoyed it because we missed the turn at the top and now we've got to go back up."
"Call the van."

"Boaz, I got full just watching you eat that salad last night."


 




We scoff at 17%!
 

SCENES OF THE DAY

Boaz says the secret to going fast on a bike is one of Margie's salads.

 

I guess this proves his point...you just can't argue with that.

Paul's tube he thought was flat in King City is still holding air.  I wonder if someone just let the air out of his tire that morning when he was making a point about getting out early.  Or maybe it just healed?
 

When the sun came out at the first SAG, Craig reluctantly accepted the chore of eating the 63 chocolate covered cookies faster than they could melt.  "Someone has to do it," He said, "we wouldn't want them to become a gooey mess on the SAG table." 
 

Karen, you say you've lost the air in your rear tire?  I think I see the problem.
 

At the crest of a hill I found Team Flamingo having this philosophical discussion.  "If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?"  When they asked me for my opinion, I just told them they should ask a squirrel.
 

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