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| Housekeeping @ New Brighton Park |
We awoke early to the sounds of construction workers this morning. It seems that the chalked white line that ran through the tent site was where a ditch was to be dug – starting at 7:30 this morning! – We hustled through our normally leisurely breakfast and were packed quickly as the Ditch Witch moved in.
We said good-bye to the three musketeers; Richard, Bruce, and Sue who we’ve been meeting intermittently over the past two weeks. We’ll miss their humor and good spirits at camp.
Despite being described as a ‘boring’ ride in our guidebook we found the first 25 miles most interesting. We pedaled along flat country roads into the heart of some prime strawberry and vegetable fields. With it being the peak of harvest fields were packed with workers walking the fields loading their baskets.
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| Harvesting strawberries south of Santa Cruz |
Dee briefly contemplated part time work for a few days but the thought of all you can eat brussel sprouts was not appealing enough. However, she would have definitely fit the illegal immigrant requirement.
Disaster struck just miles from Monterey when a clamp on Dee’s bike rack snapped. Loading up BOB and our backs we slowly spun into Monterey as the showers began.
After a Google Maps reconnaissance mission we found a shop that could assist. Winning Wheels made a great and more permanent fix but then provided absolutely shocking directions to our campground; adding numerous miles and a back breaking climb to finish the day’s riding.
Thankfully our hilltop campsite came with very hot and free showers to lift our frayed spirits and tired legs. We made a quick trip to Fisherman’s Wharf; enjoying a great seafood dinner while being entertained by a dozen very loud and angry sea lions fighting over a dock to lounge on.
We returned to camp full and poised for a restful sleep – until the neighbors showed up. A very loud and drunken couple had set up their tent next to us during our absence, waiting until well after dark to begin the boorish and nonsensical discussion of their troubles. Clearly they had forgot that the walls of a tent are far more porous than those in a house. We are not one’s to eavesdrop but in their drunken and high state we couldn’t even enjoy that.
Groggily we awoke after a fitful night, determined to get on the road to enjoy the gorgeous ride to Big Sur. We found the local Whole Foods – we should really buy shares in this company – and fuelled up.
Unfortunately we discovered yesterday’s fix on Dee’s bike had given way. Off to the bike shop we go again! We decided a more permanent – new rack – fix was in order but the delay cost us the morning, plus an additional climb of the hills I described earlier.
Once on the road we enjoyed the sights; The end of 17 mile drive, the very beautiful and exclusive Carmel Highlands, and of course the now sweeping views of the California 1. The pace was slow, the viewpoint stops many. This part of the highway is an engineering marvel, built during the Great Depression and painstakingly maintained ever since.
With rain threatening, we elected to stop at the Big Sur State Park, once again setting up the tent among the Redwoods in the hopes of protection from the rain. We explored the rustic lodge, relaxing to enjoy a drink in their lounge. We had an enjoyable pasta dinner under the canopy of the trees, before practicing some Spanish and enjoying a very restful and quiet evening.
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| Looking back at Bixby Bridge, Big Sur |
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