So-Cal

June 10

I decided to get up early so I would get a head-start packing up the camp.  I hadn’t camped for several days, and I had forgotten that setting an alarm is probably not required.  Despite buying the thickest airmattress Mountain Equipment coop sells, it’s still nowhere near as comfortable as a real bed.  By the time 7:30 rolls around, you’re ready to get out of bed anyway.

I stopped at Tina’s diner in Santa Margarita for my late morning ‘big breakfast’ which generally serves to minimize a lunch stop down to a simple snack stop instead.  I’ve found it’s important to do this especially on camping days, because you lose a fair bit of time setting up and taking down camp.

It was an interesting random choice for my stop in Santa Margarita last night because today’s ride was substantially different than yesterday’s.  The mountain curves more or less disappear and in fact a lot of the beginning of the ride is in farm-type country with some very straight roads.   Highway is also discontinuous south of San Luis Obispo.  Highway 1 regularly takes you back on the interstate-like 101 frequently.

This nice woman sold me ice cream outside Home Depot
when I was buying a new tent stake hammer

However once reaching Santa Barbara, you really appreciate the California beach vibe, and the ride takes on a different feel.  This group of pictures was taken at the Santa Barbara Beach and Wharf.  Really nice place.

These nice folks took my picture.  He works for Rockwell
 and spent some time in Ontario working in Cambridge.
He has two Harleys.

This one's for you Gerry.  Milton HOG patch and rocker on display

After leaving Santa Barbara, any time the road passes by a beach, there is a continuous line of parked cars at the edge of the highway, with surfboards sticking out the backs of trucks.  That real “Beach Boys” feel.  (Note to any motorcyclists doing this trip – be careful and avoid the right lane – cars regularly jump out to get back on the highway.  Very dangerous!)

Highway 1 took me through Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, Malibu and eventually into Santa Monica. 

Malibu was pretty interesting.  There are lots of houses crowding the beach and many in the hills.  I suppose there are some large properties for the mega movie stars but most waterfront properties are actually pretty crowded.  While the water side of your house would be marvelous, it would not be unlike having your front door 20 feet from Dundas Street in Oakville/Burlington with probably more traffic.  Getting in and out of your house would be a major chore, not to mention the noise!  I honestly don’t think I would want a place there (unless I had one of the gazillionaires places of course.)

I followed the traffic all the way to Santa Monica hoping to get a picture at the pier.  Man, the place has changed since I was there last and there’s lots of construction going on.  I got one quick picture and got out of the traffic.

At the Santa Monica pier.
My last look at the Pacific before heading east.

The ugliness of heading east.  I think I liked the coast better.

Tonight is urban camping in the suburb of Pomona.

Las Vegas tomorrow.