Wandering Wheels - 8 January 1991

Well, I survived (and then some). Today was the first day we just got up, ate and then biked. It started out a bit chilly, but by the time we were on our way, the sun was out and we had the most gorgeous biking weather. Our group really is working well together. This morning we got all of our bikes out, pumped up with air and ready to go well before anyone else. Our group enjoys being together and is always helpful. We seem to have taken great pride in our group. We've been debating on names. We're thinking self-serving bias or Randy suggested Team Bias.

Today's biking was absolutely perfect. The weather was perfect, the landscape was perfect, even our lunch spot was perfect. At first, we didn't get very far. We went back down to the Carmel Mission and luckily it was open this time. It's amazing the structures that the Catholic's butt as missions. It was a fascinating place to go.

Then from there we rode out of Carmel to Point Lakes. Talk about beautiful! This place was great. We got a chance to see an old whaling house. Then we rode to a great scenic spot where we could see everything, from otters and sea lions to beautiful rocks and even grey whales (at a distance, of course). I could have spent all day there. However, we were only 3 1/2 miles down the road and had 30 to go. So we hopped on our bikes and pedaled our hearts out.

Remember how I said the view were breathtaking? Well, today was even better. There's so much beauty it's hard to take it all in. It's amazing how much you miss when you're riding in a car, like the waves crashing on the shore and the sea lions barking out their song.

We stopped for lunch right before the Bixby Bridge. The whole time was just wonderful with the view and the people and the good and the watching the other bikers come in (we were first, of course). It's amazing how good food can taste after biking. Then after lunch, we had a mile climb up a nice-sized hill. The feeling at the top was so great (I'm running out of adjectives). We took it nice and slow but steady. Then came the best part of any climb - going back down! We went around curves at about 32-38 mph with the ocean on one side and rolling hills on the other. The experience was almost orgasmic!

From then on it was just miles of beauty; so much to see, so much you don't see from a car or on TV. My whole view of California has changed already. We stopped a couple of more times (once so I could get more film, which I desperately needed, although I hated paying $2.37 for it!). Then we pulled into Pfeiffer Camp Grounds in Big Sur. As if the rest of the day hadn't been perfect, the ride through the forest was the perfect ending. There's so much beauty on God's earth and so many people take it for granted. It's a shame.

We got showers and have been taking it easy the rest of the time. Our group got together and did a load of wash which took ages to finish (and quite a bit of money I might add!). I'm so glad I was able to get into a group that is so close. It makes the trip that much better.

There were a couple of accidents today and Laurie has numerous cuts and scrapes all over her elbows and knees. Some of them (not all) occurred when she came into camp and people cheered and she turned to look and fell down. I think it was rather amusing (and so will she in a couple of weeks). She's doing really well. Æ

Tunes: bruce springsteen - trapped