Reflections....Joy in the Journey

During the last month we spent a lot of time together , we ate together, we cycled together, we slept together/sharing rooms,  we had devotions together, etc. etc.

On one of our last evenings together, after Joanne read verses from scripture that were dear to her, we shared  what this trip had meant to each of us  – it was a personal journey  - could we do the cycling/driving/navigating  required to reach our destination each day?   We all made it to our destination daily.

 It was  a journey with God especially when we saw His beautiful creation all around us – we were privileged to see flowers in abundance….and the mountains and the ocean….we could sing, "This is my Father's world, He shines in all that's fair, in the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere..."

It was a journey with each other – living in such a tight community for a month isn't what we are used to - we were able to encourage each other, appreciate each others gifts,  bless each other, praise God together and the list goes  on. 

 There truly was JOY IN THE JOURNEY!

Life is great - cycling makes it better..

Well - we are here in Los Angeles - we arrived at Venice Beach Hostel before lunch - a  shopping extravaganza  followed by a long coffee break in Santa Monica - purpose of the shopping was to check out a R.E.I. store to see what they had to offer to the cyclists and others. Joe did need a new rim on the back - a spoke had come out.   We dropped a few dollars there but it was worth it - check out those new cycling shirts on John, John and Joe. 

"Our California Boys"

All the locals in Malibu warned us of the weather that was coming and were getting ready for a heavy rain - Wednesday it's coming and we will be leaving this area.  Today started off a bit overcast but by the time we got going the sun had peeked through and it turned out to be a lovely day after all.  We have been blessed with a month of excellent weather - rain gear never had to be worn....

Kilometers covered was around the 2300 mark - total flats changed was close to 20 - one rim had to be replaced - one chain was also replaced.  Bikes were packed into boxes ready to be transported home, luggage sorted and repacked....

We all went out for a delicious supper tonight....John said his good byes to the group as he decided to leave for the airport  and sleep there as he has a 6:00 a.m. flight - all others are leaving at different times tomorrow.

Weather came…

The locals were right in their prediction – the weather came – woke up to hear drip, drip, drip and more drips.  It’s a bad hair day for all….the cyclists were so pleased that there would be no cycling today – we ended well and could not have asked for anything better….

Last night we ended up sleeping with all 12 of us in one big room…real cosy I’ll say.  Squeaky beds are enough to wake up the light sleepers and everyone seems to have to get up at one time or another overnight to use the facilities.  Ear plugs are a must for most – that also drowns out the snoring.  It’s lights out at the same time for everyone.  The early risers made their way out of the bedroom very quietly leaving many in bed to make their way to the bus stop 2 blocks away for a ride to LAX.  Public transit works very well here.

Malibu...27 miles of scenic beaches....

Glorious sunshine once again - how much better can it get - it's to be a 121 kilometer day.  Can report after the fact that all the riders had an excellent day of cycling - a tailwind, no hills, sunshine and an average of 25.1 kph.

This is a picture taken yesterday but I couldn't resist posting it.....the caption could read, "Life's a Beach" or Life's a Bitch" - you decide....

Could also write same old, same old for yesterdays ride as well but I will post a few pics...

Coffee break was at a campground - they shared their patio with us - the cyclists had time to sit and relax - it wasn't the usual, "it's time to go" - another 50 kilometers and we found them a nice place for a picnic lunch...right on the water again.  The route was on either on bike path or on highway 1 so we did not always see them.

The cyclists had left before we shot the picture

Everyone arrived at their destination by 2:30 with lots of time to soak up the rays before supper.  Speaking of supper, we did get those 16 head of cauliflower on Saturday like I wrote earlier and we never did get a chance to have them so it was cauliflower with dip for happy hour and cream of cauliflower soup as an appetizer before our KFC/KGC dinner - noticed the name has been changed to Kentucky Grilled Chicken here and they were just across the street from where we were staying and had great specials so that's what we ate.  We have been handing some heads of cauliflower out to others as well - just couldn't see them go to waste and we figured they may question us taking vegetables out of the country on our flights home.

I will post some pics of our Sunday evenings get together to show our appreciation to our leaders who organized and helped out during the tour....

Bernie all decked out in his new outfit - others are hoping it will slow him down some..

I do know this - I will wear it with pride...

Candids.....

These pictures should speak for themselves...

 

This is what our dorm looked like in San Francisco..

Drivers do not always want to acknowledge this fact..

If all else fails, follow this sign..

Taken the same day, one on each side of the road...

Laundry Day or night?

A Day off in Santa Barbara

The mood was pretty gloomy this morning - to stay or not to stay - Joe went for a walk bright and early and came back with good news that there was a motel two blocks away with vacancies for a group of 13.  The "sabbats reis" was made with the bicycles - some even walked their bikes to our new location.
Kudos to the staff at the Alamar who accommodated us so quickly - the second floor balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean was an added bonus - a huge cruise ship is sitting there for the weekend and lots of other tourists enjoying the prime summer conditions in Santa Barbara today. 

We're not asking Bill what he is carrying in what looks like a body bag.







A second breakfast was enjoyed by most on the patio overlooking the waterfront...

 

Anna was daring...

Art exhibits also lined the sidewalks by the wharf - one photo caught the eye of some of the cyclists..

apparently Albert Einstein was a cyclist...

This display of crosses is set up two times a month at this location as an awareness to fellow Americans as to the cost of having their military fight in Iran and Afghanistan.  The volunteers are passionate to the cause and speak to anyone who will listen to them.  They also speak of the post traumatic stress that the soldiers face when coming back from war.  

Once we were all in our new digs, everyone was free to wander/roam to their hearts content and we all did.  Joe and John were even brave enough to take a dip in the ocean it was a tad fresh, they admitted.  The beach is filled with sun worshipper but no swimmers today.  All the stories are shared at happy hour over drinks and snacks and we will be off to find a place for supper soon and then we will get together for our time of worship and praise - this is our last weekend together... 

Santa Barbara

It’s Saturday morning – the sun is shining once again – we’ve been so blessed with great weather and give thanks for that each day.  It’s going to be a long day today – a century ride so it would be an early start.  Two flats were fixed yet yesterday afternoon – thorns on the road – not a favourite with cyclists. 

After a so called tail gate breakfast, the cyclists are ready to roll, eager to get to their destination in Santa Barbara for the weekend.  The area we are passing through is prime market garden – salad bowl territory again and we can smell it.  Just before the first scheduled coffee stop we come across 2 of our cyclists changing a flat – and wouldn’t you know it, it’s the 2 guys who have rib injuries – almost like the blind leading the blind.  We, 3 ladies, stood by helpless feeling bad…..even though I have done it once before, I wouldn’t know how to do so now….

Forgot to mention the day we left Big Sur of our tanking up experience – others we had been talking to had told us of how expensive the gas was on the stretch of Hwy 1 that we would be taking – a whopping $5.59 a gallon.   We needed to buy some and  we put in enough to get us to civilization where it was $4.49 a gallon.  They see the tourists coming…..  oh well, we are helping to keep the economy going here.

We continue to pass through acres of crops – many being harvested as I write this.  A golf course in the middle of the vegetable fields  seems a bit ironic – I’m thinking that the migrant workers out in the fields aren’t using the golf course…

Horses and beef cattle, many with young, are grazing in the brown fields with the mountains in the back ground.  This turns out to be the most interesting drive/cycle for us – we became gleaners in a cauliflower field where Crus and Roberto gave us some fresh cauliflowers for supper or lunch tomorrow.  Right around the bend we saw white tarps over crops – these turned out to be raspberries which were being harvested.

The cyclists were promised a climb before lunch at Lompoc – the road they were to take would give them over 600 feet of elevation in the first three miles as the narrow, twisting road climbs over a small band of hills, reaching an elevation of 950 feet.  At the top we could all enjoy the views across the open farmlands before the brisk down hill.  Before you know it, you are in town with all the facilities – right out of town you are back into the mountains and the beginning of a 13.5 rolling climb to an elevation of 900 feet.

Today is also the day we are passing the 2,000 kilometer mark on the total trip….at coffee break the cyclists shed all the extra clothes they started off with this morning.  The temperature is climbing quickly – we found that out when we had to wait for AAA to rescue us once again – van wouldn’t  start and those who stopped to help did not have jumper cables with them and neither did we.  A few hours later we have a new battery and have arrived at our destination.

In the flat department we were not so fortunate – there is a lot of debris along the roads and we found that out. Total flats today was 3....total miles cycled 164 kilometers - every cyclist did the total ride and arrived hot and tired just after 5:00 p.m.  We are at the Santa Barbara Tourist Hostel - it looks very nice on the web - we're just a tad disappointed but what can you do....

Road closed, detour ahead – doesn’t mean that according to our cyclists….this photo proves that….