PC_Day24

Day 24

Tuesday, 22 June 2004
Daly City, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
73.4 miles, 5h10m, 14.2 mph
Elapsed Time: 6h59m, Max speed: 47.3mph
Total Climbing: 3478ft, Max elevation: 687ft
Total mileage: 1383.8

It was cloudy, cool, humid, and windy when we left Daly City. We've been hearing that it's going to be like this every day. It will clear in the afternoon and turn out to be a beautiful day. And we'll have a tailwind. All this came to pass today.

The toughest climb of the day took us through the streets of Daly City back out to the coast. After a few miles we rejoined Route 1, which was fine until the shoulder disappeared for a 4-mile stretch over a climb. But then it reappeared and stayed with us for the remainder of the day.

My phone started ringing as we rode through Half Moon Bay. I fumbled around but was unable to answer it before the voice mail took over. The message said to call work. It was good news. JT had been promoted. Woo-hoo! I was not promoted, but I received a substantial cash consolation prize. Woo-hoo.

After Half Moon Bay the road smoothed out with a few rollers. As we started climbing a couple of really big rollers we started passing the stragglers of a large youth group out for a 5-day camping and cycling trip. Some of them were waiting at the top of the hill for the one kid who was pushing his bike. There were more of them at the top of the next climb. Then we saw them no more.

The descent from the nasty climb.

Then things got really good. We rode out from under the clouds and into the sunshine. The wind really started kicking in. We were maintaining 20mph on the flats and turning the big chainring on the climbs. On one moderate descent I reached over 47mph. Woo-hoo! We stopped a few times for interesting things.

Harbor seals on the rocks.

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Some guys doing some kind of para-surfing thing.

Farming.

We stopped for lunch in the small town of Davenport, then hammered into Santa Cruz. After showering, Linda drove us up to The Mystery Spot. It's just one of those places that you have to go.

Bob and JT mysteriously leaning to the left.

Linda left us tonight to head back east. Tomorrow we carry our own bags to Monterey.

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