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DAY 19
Are we in Nina? Pinta? No...Santa Maria

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ROUTE: Paso Robles to Santa Maria DISTANCE: 80 Miles WINDS: Spotty...headwind at times, nice tailwind to finish
WEATHER: Sunny, foggy, sunny...warm, cool, warm TERRAIN: Hilly for first third then flat with one grunt after the second SAG TOTAL CLIMBING: 2852 Feet

DAILY REPORT:  From my experience in this area, if you don't like the temperature, just move over about 10 feet.  Wow, what variety today.  It was pretty cool when we pulled out but it warmed up fast as we climbed over the mountains.  It was foggy and cool again when we got to our SAG, then it warmed up again as we neared our destination...jacket on, jacket off, jacket on, jacket off...good grief.

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. 

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; a screamer 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. 

Someone 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 0.2 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.  But when you work that hard, you should be rewarded with a great descent...that came true as the riders were rewarded with a nice downhill into the final 15 miles that were dead flat all the way to the motel...and we had a nice 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

 

 

HAPPENINGS ON THE ROAD
HEARD SOMEWHERE TODAY

"I got to the bottom of the wall and just stopped...my momma didn't raise no fool.  I walked up it faster than I could have ridden up it."

"My granny gear retired today."
"Why's that?"
"She was really tired after yesterday, so she got 'retired' after that wall."

"The crops here have a great aroma when we pass by."
"Beats the Kansas feedlots wouldn't you say?"

"After Margie's last night, I don't have room for any SAG food today."

"I'm afraid to pee in the grass for fear of causing a spark!"

Lots of dead grass out here...a spark and it's all gone.

This guy must have the same mobile phone carrier that David has.

C'mon Margie!!!  Punch it over!!!

Lookout below!!!

The best descent was into Morro Bay!  David made the switchbacks look easy.

The tandem team makes good time in the hills too...at least on the down side.

David likes the flat terrain...he's smokin' by the crops.

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