Day 32 Report - Big Sur to San Simeon

Total miles 62.5
Average speed 14.6mph
Total ascent 1177m

I woke up refreshed after a monster sleep in the wee kitchen! A hearty breakfast was required and delivered. Oatmeal and pancake. A winning combination.
I had put on my windproof expecting a chilly descent to begin but quickly changed into a thin jersey on top of the (mostly) ever present base layer. It was hot! Very calm as well - lucky Jim!

The coast was on stunning form again today and sometimes when i stopped i was amazed by giant butterflies! Sorry, pic update will have to wait as this motel PC has very slow internet.

There were more cyclists today - a different group though. These guys are doing a double century weekend...100 today monterey to san simeon and another tomorrow to Lompoc. I tried like a bear to stay with them but when the climbs came (and there were many) I couldn't hold them.
 
I think the fast cyclists stopped for lunch at a place called Lucia - I saw some bikes outside anyway but I like to get at least half my day done by lunch and pressed on.
 
I had only just been thinking that with these cliffs and rocks it wasnt surfer country...wrong! Theyll surf anywhere with waves! Bonkers! I also passed something called the Big Sur jade festival. Very popular! No idea what it was all about though as I continued on my way.

I finally did stop for lunch at a place called Gorda. It's very small and only really has a gas station and a small cafe - but they had past bolognese on the menu - I was chuckling away that the other bikers (on noisy harleys) were fueling their bikes up with petrol while I was fuleing up mine with spag bol!

Just as I was getting ready to leave the cafe a bunch of cyclist swept by - BAH! I could've tried to draft them for a while. But no matter as just as I set off there was another bunch woohoo. However, this lasted all of 5 minutes as we began another stiff climb. This one lasted a good while and I lost them. I managed to cling onto a straggler for a while. He was wearing a "King of the mountains" jersey. I asked him why he was flailing around with me if he was KOTM. He said that was 2009 and he'd put on a bit of weight since then! It was good to have company for a while but as the climb got even steeper we got into our own rhythms and he broke ahead.

This was all before my saddle snippet post at Ragged Point. If memory serves Ragged point was just about the end of the climbing and descending and I descended down the final bit to about sea level for a flat 15-18 miles. Just as I did this a support car went by (beware cyclists sign) followed by a lone rider. I have become like a stealth assassin when it comes to stealing draft so I kicked on and managed to hold onto him. Just as well it was flat and again the mid afternoon/early evening had given us a tail wind. I don't think the guy noticed for a while. He was riding a nice cannondale and knew what he was doing so I just got my head down, pegged my ears bag and dug in.

Finally the guy noticed and we said hi, I tried to take my turn for a while and bravely took the lead. But after a wee while at the front I couldn't hold onto the guy anymore when he took over again. It was very nice of him to hold up and wait for me and soon the shoulder was wide enough for us to ride side-by-side and chat. Ernie told me about the double century ride and how he was in good shape last year and despite not doing the training decided at the last minute to do the ride. The pace that the lead bunch were setting was too much for him up Big Sur - no wonder as he said there were a couple of pros in there.

Ernie is a trauma patient nurse and somehow we got onto bike helmets. He said he'd seen patients who had been wearing a helmet and those that hadn't and the difference is stark. I personally wouldn't ride without one -Hogwash, get yersel a helmet!

Cycling in a pair with Ernie reminded me of those late afternoon/evenings during lejog last year. Gav, remember how we somehow got a new burst of energy from somewhere? - a timely snack stop - a laugh about something - it's all part of the legend! Well, the final part of today reminded me a bit of those fast miles towards the end of a day - we fairly flew along. Good luck tomorrow Ernie!

So, after a lull I've had two great days and feel I should say something about the guys I've met that had to stop at San Francisco. I'm sorry you couldn't do these miles this time. Here's to the next time!

Ok, I think I've caught up on reports. Photos will follow when I can. I've just had my dinner - how great is it how much you enjoy your grub after a day in the saddle!