Day 25: Are we there yet?
(El Capitan SP to Leo Carillo SP near Malibu)
date: Thursday August 29, 2002
daily miles: 99 miles (159 km)
total miles: 1,937 miles (3,117 km)
My campsite at sunset with the offshore drilling rigs out in the Pacific Ocean
One another reason not to stay at El Capitan S.P? The train cruises by you at full speed just a few feet away. I was sound asleep the first time this happened. The ground started rumbling, I thought an earthquake was happening. The ground felt like it was a giant bowl of Jell-O – it was shaking badly beneath me. I thought the hillside was going to give away and I was going to fall into the Pacific Ocean at the base of the cliff. It wasn’t fun. Then it was quiet for a while – then another train came and it happened again. And again. And again.
Traffic, traffic and more traffic. That was the best way to describe the day. From listening to morning rush hour to the trains constantly going down the tracks. I was literally assaulted by the noise today.
Are we there yet??? Question I have asked myself endlessly today as the end of the trip is so close that I can see it -- but it is just a tad over 200+ more miles of urban gridlock to the finish line. Yes – it is starting to feel like a finish line.
Yes -- I'm tired. My hands hurts and are literally tortured by holding onto the handlebars -- and yes, I do have lots of different hand positions and different gloves to wear -- but it isn't helping much anymore. My left arm is "buzzing" I think from a pinched nerve in the neck that has irritated me throughout the trip -- but now it has moved from irritating to excruciating. My legs are good though and pedaling itself is still easy. My butt has even survived to date -- even on my tiny Italia Flite saddle with the protruding stitching on the saddle itself (the custom embroidery stitching bothered me for awhile -- like the first 1000 miles!)
Highlights of the day: The ride near sunset -- I can see the attraction of Malibu and living on or near the water. An older man on his Cannondale that accompanied me for about an hour today -- nice to chat with someone while cycling as the time just flew by. Detours through Santa Barbara -- I don't know what the street name was, but it seemed like Rodeo Drive with lots of small upscale shops and beautiful women out running their morning errands. Not a site you would typically see in the Northwest that I know of.
Enough for tonight -- I'm tired.
Mark
ps: The rear wheel with all the stress cracks (fractures) is even scarier now!!! I should have collapsed awhile ago. I'm at sixteen cracks on the drive side and two on the other. Not bad for a 32-spoke rear wheel huh?? Definitely not the recommended way to travel. Not recommended at all...
