OTIS AND THE BIKE RIDE

As For My Remains...

Friday, July 6, 2007 - Day 15

Should anything happen to me while on this trip, or anytime in the future, until I give notice of another location, I think I would want my remains spread somewhere here in Big Sur, maybe off a cliff into the ocean. This really is the part of the trip I have enjoyed the most so far, solely for the scenic beauty. It has kicked my ass everyday, but been worth every moment of it. At the top of every hill I can't help but stop and look around or take pictures. Many of them are very similar, but each view was different, and each one was at least as breathtaking as the previous one. I just can't get over it. I can't ever imagine passing through here in a car after biking through this area. The idea seems like a waste of time. I think that if I do pass through here again anytime soon, I want to be hiking the whole time. It wouldn't matter to me that it would take a week to get through it. I could savor every moment and every view.

So the beginning of the day was great, exiting out of Big Sur, coming down the mountains. It was a bit overcast and foggy at times, but it was perfect weather for biking, hot on the climbs and nice and chilly on the descents. I got a good start this morning. I left camp around 10 or a bit after, but I had to get back on the internet at the little hotel/restuarant a mile down the road to check if I had a place to stay yet. I tried to contact more people, but the internet went out there, so it was time to ride. I would have to take care of it later. Things work themselves out somehow, it seems. Plus, it's over 70 miles to Santa Cruz, so that's plenty of the time to wait to hear from the people I already contacted and a few towns on the way to get on the internet later.

The hills and cliffs and beaches in the first few hours of the day were amazing. There were a few houses that I passed that were nestled into outlying large rock formations right by the water. One day when I am older and ready to settle down, I think that is what I want: a modest little house, maybe a few rooms, a porch or two, one screened in and the other open, and some stairs leading down to the beach. Or maybe not even the stairs, just the ability to stand on the edge of a cliff, look down into the water or out to sea. Somewhere I can stare for hours, trying to imagine what is out there, never knowing for sure what is beyond that horizon, but being at a point in my life where I am content with just my imagination of the possibilities. At this point in my life, I think I would get too anxious, and I might just jump off the cliff and start swimming towards that horizon. I don't think I would make it too far, because I am not a particularly strong swimmer. Maybe I'd have to get a rowboat and row across the Pacific. I could couchsurf in Hawaii or Polynesia along the way, eh?

So once I got to Carmel and the towns beyond, the ride wasn't terribly exciting or scenic. A lot of farmland and not so interesting towns. I passed artichoke farms, strawberry farms, brocolli farms?, I don't even know what other kinds of farms. Once I got to Monterey, the 1 turned into a freeway, a freeway where bicycles are not allowed. I got off for a while and took bike paths and side streets, but after a while it got old and there didn't seem to be a clear route, so I jumped back on the 1. For the most part it was just fine, nice wide shoulder. As I neared Santa Cruz, however, I came up to a narrow bridge. The shoulder narrowed from about 10 feet to about 2 feet. What else could I do but go for it. I can't turn around, there was no exit close by. So I waited for a little clearing, held my breath, and just jumped into it. Not too bad. Later, just when I got into Santa Cruz, there was something much worse. The sign said construction ahead, but I figured it couldn't be too bad. The entire shoulder was closed, blocked off by concrete barriers. What the fuck am I supposed to do? There were two lanes of traffic going in my direction and no shoulder on the left side either. The most recent exit was back about a half mile or so, but I could see that the next exit was just on the other side of the blockage, probably around 500 or 600 yards ahead. The cars were coming fast, and there wasn't much in the ways of breaks in traffic. Oh what to do?! I stopped and considered my options for a minute. Then I went for it. Really, really dumb, I know. I pedaled as fast as my legs could handle. Being in a low gear, optimal for climbing big hills, it's not exactly prime for speedy escapes from freeway traffic. I went for it anyway. For the 45 to 60 seconds that it took me to get through it (although it felt like so much longer), I was just waiting to be creamed by a semi or one of those motherfucking RV's. I was sure I was going to get tossed over the conrete barrier. Luckily, when I looked behind me at the end, there had been a little old toyota that had slowed down and paced behind me, surely holding up a long line of cars, no doubt all upset about the delay in their Friday night commute home. Thank god for that guy slowing down, not trying to squeeze around me. Saved me a lot of pain. I still can't believe I did that.

So somehow I was able to find a place to stay tonight. Mari is her name. She seems friendly. She has to work until 11, but she left a key out for me. I decided that it would be best to meet her face to face before going into her house. So I went to downtown Santa Cruz to visit the restaurant where she works. I like this town so far. People have been friendly. Some bike couriers came up and started talking to me while I was locking my bike up. They told me about a big ride tonight and offered me a place to stay. I don't think I'm going to make the ride. I'm pretty beat and just looking forward to taking a warm shower and doing some laundry. So my friend Georgia called me right about when I pulled into downtown Santa Cruz. I'm going to visit her at work tomorrow morning. I'm really excited about that. I'm debating staying here for another day; I kind of want to see the town more and hang out a bit. See how I feel tomorrow.

I'm not terribly far from San Francisco, and I think that if I got an early start I could make it there in one day. I don't know if it's worth it, though. I may cut inland to San Jose to try to meet up with a good friend Gifford. He will be there for a day for a job interview. We'll see.

look at that tree - amazing

i really want to go over there, but there was an abundance of no trespassing signs. it looked like a little self-sustaining residence. I'm so curious.