Day 43. I was supposed to camp in Oceano. But I got there and they told me they no longer let bikers stay there. Something about too many homeless staying up in their campgrounds and me looking dirty. Blah blah blah. 55 miles. It was late and the day was hard so I gave up and found a motel. Who’s homeless now?
Day 44. Gaviota. A long day with few towns. Actually, really only one. Lompoc. Sister city to Cheyenne. (Bowser?) 80 miles. Another hard day over a hill and then another with unkind wind. Thank God for Round Table Pizza.
Day 45. Through Santa Barbara to Carpenteria. 50 miles. Santa Barbara was celebrating something called Fiesta Days (?)–which meant the bike lanes were filled with men on horses and the horses filled the lanes with their crap and so my bike slipped around a lot. But I ended on a beach.
Day 46. From Santa Barbara to just north of Malibu, a place called Mugu Point. 50 miles. And my first flat. This is a picture of my favorite sock. It’s a shark sock. I’ve worn it for 40 days now.
Day 47. Through Los Angeles. 85 miles. It’s flat now and so easier to go fast, but hard to find places to stay. They all think I’m homeless. Ended up in a motel in Long Beach. It was strange seeing so many people.
Day 48. To Encinitas. A ride through Camp Pendleton where the men with machine guns and tanks looked at the guy on a bike all sorts of strange. Then, my last night outside. Tomorrow, past San Diego, to a little place called Mehico. The finish line.
