Final Rest Day

- October 28, 2018

So where's the finish? Our current plan is to ride to Poway and my parent's house for a healthy dose of sitting around, seeing my Mom, cleaning up all our veteran camping gear, and enjoying the abundant sunshine. This ride is drawing to a close and I expect we'll only have about six days of pedaling left.

This morning we're having a rest in a Motel 6 in Lompoc. Today will be a day off. Let's recap some of the happenings of the last two days.

This is my third trip down this section of the California coast but it's been nearly a decade since the last so lots of places seem new while I'll occasionally glimpse landmarks that spark a memory. In Cayucos we stopped at a gas station and deli where an older gentleman gave us extra tickets he had to a fundraiser luncheon across the street at the Veterans Hall. There was also a drawing for cash prizes. I felt I may have had a hot hand but it wasn't really in the plans to stick around any longer so we continued south along the coast.

Near the top of a stiff climb Rach found some more road beers. (Sealed beers on the side of the road.) It was hot out yesterday afternoon and the beers were blistering. We got to the motel, iced them down, and I tried one... but the heat had taken its toll and the taste was no longer quite right. Ah well. I never imagined it would be so warm this late in the trip. Especially when we were cold and soggy back in Washington. I suppose I forgot the charms of Southern California.

In a small farming town called Guadalupe we met a 101 year old man at another local veterans hall where they were doing a pork ribs fundraiser. Rach and I were going to pass on that one but a friendly man gave us a recommendation to Romo's Market down the street for breakfast burritos. There we met a guy named Piedad who has lived here for years and years. He told us when he bought his ten acres in the 70's they cost $25,000. Now the land is worth millions but he's a simple guy so he's just going to stay put... unless he moves down to Baja.

Our recent miles have wound through lots of farm land - strawberries, lettuce, broccoli, and more. When we resume tomorrow we'll head back toward the Pacific and Santa Barbara.