Photo Shots....

Wilma, the driver and Anna the navigator.....

I think someone had it in for Margaret today....taking all these different pictures of her....she did more than play with her computer - it's a big job keeping track of what happens every day and then having to post it each night....

Comtempating over their beers - what did we get ourselves in to..

Officer, she really didn't do anything wrong...

These devils refer to hills - there were 7 in total one day

Only one of the non cyclists would worry about bad hair days in the mornings....

I did it - conquered those devils!

Bernie, Joanne and Joe can honestly say they were at Pebble Beach Golf Course
were they golfing?  No...

This was Curt and Joanne just coming off the train - they didn't know yet what they were in for!

Won't ask what thay piece of pie cost - but it was worth it!

We're now in Southern California - Grover Beach

The last day of September has arrived - another beautiful day here in southern California - only a 91 kilometer ride today, mostly downhill so we all arrived at the Seaview Inn before 2:00 p.m.  This gives lots of time this afternoon for bike maintenance, laundry or just being downright lazy - all in anticipation for the century ride tomorrow.  The scenery was nothing spectactular today - vineyards was the only new sight we hadn't seen yet.

It's not every day we can capture this many cyclists that close together for a shot!

Lunch stop was at Pismo Beach where we had a group shot taken...

Hearst Castle Tour - San Simeon

Just some thoughts to go with yesterday’s ride yet….the weather was just perfect – sunshine all day. 
The locals we have met and talked to tell us how blessed we are to be having the weather we are – it had been a foggy month before we got here.  We are so thankful the cyclists are not cycling in the fog on these narrow winding steep roads. 

From reading the brochure about the 17 - Mile Drive, we knew what we were in for and I quote, “You simply cannot find a more scenic, a more opulent, a more awe-inspiring coastal landscape than 17 – Mile Drive through Pebble Beach.  Hug the dramatic Pacific coastline of pristine beaches, secluded coves, crashing waves and spectacular seascapes.  Breathe deep the fresh air and bask in the year-round temperate climate” -  the fact that we had to pay  a gate fee of $9.50 to drive on this part of the roadway was a bit of a turnoff but we did it anyway and we wanted to get our money’s worth so took lots of pictures.  There was no charge for the cyclists. We picked up some info at two houses that had For Sale signs on them.  One was with an ocean view for a mere $18,500,000.00 – it was only a 4753 sq.ft. house – we decided it was too small for any of us to want to buy it.  The other house was on the other side of the street, more square feet with 5 car garage and the asking price was only $8,950,000.00 – we passed on this one too.

Pebble Beach Golf Links, world renowned,  will speak to the golfers who are reading the blog…we stopped to take pictures – didn’t have our clubs with and the $350.00 - $500.00 green fee didn’t entice any of us.  

The folder pointing out all the points of interest on the 17 – Mile Drive comes with a coupon for a reimbursement of the $9.50 fee if you spent $25.00 in their restaurants along the way.  From the opulence we saw, that would probably have been what 3 coffees would have cost us.  Oh well, that’s the way of life for the rich and the famous.

Just past this “drive” stands the Carmel Mission which stands today as a monument to the great missionary of the Cross who left his home and the comforts of a conventional life to come to the Western wilderness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach California’s Native Americans – and this was in 1748.

The scenery  kept changing all the way to Big Sur which was posted in picture form yesterday.

Big Sur Lodge was our home for the night – a swimming pool offered a welcome relief to the cyclists after their 78 kilometer ride – the sun shining made it great for a swim.

 Thursday we have a tour planned at the “Hearst Castle” – the last tour of the day is at 2:40 p.m. so decisions had to be made as to what time to leave in the morning – there were lots of hills/mountains and valleys on the route.  The first cyclists were on the road at 7:00 a.m. – right at daybreak – another group left at 7:30 and the fastest ones left at 8:00.  This way they hope to all be at the Castle in time to have a shower first before the tour.

Driving in the van from Big Sur to San Simeon was just a little too close to the edge for us and we took our time – I, personally wouldn’t want to be on a bike but our cyclists aren’t complaining.  Looking back we see the road behind us and just hold our breath….we see so many houses on top of these cliffs and say that these people are “living on the edge”.  The cyclists will be earning their lunch today…

Pictures just can't show the steepness of the cliffs and the twists in the roads.

When we met up with the cyclists at Ragged Point Restaurant they were happy that it was overcast – they had had a very long uphill ride and a very long downhill which the cyclists just loved. 

We discovered elephant seals today - a tourist spot just after lunch featured these - we stopped and watched for a while and learned many intersting facts about these mammals - the male weights a mere 5,000 lbs.  Baby seals weigh in at 60 lbs.  Interesting to watch a baby being led into the water by its mother and learn how to swim.

   The push was on - could they make it to the motel to shower before going to the Hearst Castle?  Well we got to the motel at 1:15 - only one of our rooms were ready so we got extra towels and 8 people were all showered in no time flat - have never seen this before - 2 people even showered together - we will let you figure out who that was....we all piled into the back of the van to be driven to the visitor centre at the castle.  No one drives up the steep winding roads in their own vehicles - you go up by bus.

It was only for a 5 kilometer ride...

We joined others in the bus ride to the top and were then taken on a guided tour of the castle.  Our tour guide told us how much he enjoyed his job - we all were of the opinion he should quite his day job.  Others we talked to made the information more exciting.  What opulence here way out in the middle of no where...

Total kilometers cycled today was 108 - no flats to report again but a case of poison oak which was probably picked up by going into the bushes....we're hoping it does not spread through the camp - all precautions are being followed. 

  

Pictures are worth more than a thousand words today - to Big Sur

Pictures are worth a thousand words – or in our case today $9.50 since the van was charged that

amount to travel the “17 Mile Drive” – this warranted the papparazi do their job today and we sure did – have over 200 pics on 2 cameras each….now it will be which pictures to choose….

Today's seventy eight kilometer ride will be shown in picture mode - enjoy it as much as we did...

"The Lone Cypress"

The Golf Course at Pebble Beach

There's a story behind this picture - an account is being settled or was it?  A welcome coffee break at Rocky Point Cafe.....it was worth the climb back up after coffee..

The road to Big Sur, California

Here's John showing off his racing stripes as he calls them...the pool was a great welcome after a tough day.

Anna and Margaret being instructed in "Laughter Yoga" by Mary Pat..

Davenport - Monterey

Life happens while we are away and all of us are in touch with family at home….Adri heard this morning that his sister in law, Trudy, had passed away after a brief battle with cancer.  We offer our condolences to the extended Kloet family, many, we know,  are reading our blog.  You will be with us in thought and prayer….may God comfort all of you.

Wow – sunshine from the time we got up – a perfect day – we’ve not had this yet so early in the morning.  Our route today takes us away from the ocean so we did not have fog this morning even though we were right close by it in Davenport.  It’s interesting to see the crops growing right along the highway – right on top of the cliffs – we saw trucks hauling boxes full of vegetables away.  Migrant workers are camped right along the roadway here.  Brussel sprouts was what we could see/smell this morning.  We are passing through the artichoke capital of the US today – will be interesting to see how they grow.

Today’s route is on lots of city streets since Highway 1 is so busy and narrow so it’s challenging for the SAG wagon to try to stay with the cyclists.  A flat tire held up three of the cyclists so the other 7 got way ahead and were scouting out for a coffee stop.  Starbucks was calling out to them and the lattes were ordered and we all sat around drinking our coffee while the tire was changed on Ed’s bicycle – John, our “bike tekkie” , has it changed in no time.  John’s expertise comes in handy and is very much appreciated.

Strawberry fields are next and lots of them in all different stages of readiness – plastic covered furrows with plants being put into them to the finished product being picked for market.  We can’t capture the smell on pictures but enjoyed seeing the process from start to finish.

 We have finally discovered what the plants were that we kept seeing yesterday – today we saw them up close and they are artichokes – never knew how they grew but now we do… we see asparagus and red leafed lettuce – truly the market garden area of California.  This part of California is called,"the salad bowl of the US" and now we know why.

Lunch stop was to be at Moss Landing and we were able to use picnic tables right at the Yacht Club – great location – to our delight we saw some seals sun bathing out on a dock – the closer we got to them, the louder they started barking.  They even posed for us to take photos….huge jelly fish went swimming right by us…

Today's ride was 95 kilometers.........with one flat to fix....

By 3:00 p.m. everyone was at the Howard Johnson in Monterey - everyone is sporting some tan lines today - it was just one fabulous day all around.  We were very impressed to see what this area produces in terms of agriculture - something we were not aware of.  In the heart of this area, we stopped at a roadside stand where everything we had seen growing was being sold.  Bottles of marinated Artichoke Hearts were also available - the young lad minding the stand asked if we wanted a sample before we bought, we said yes, we sampled, we bought....and shared with the others at happy hour along with the "real guacamole" dip we also bought...
  

The fruit of the land