Gary Flys in Tonight

In a few minutes, I'll leave for the airport to pick up Gary. The bikes are packed and the backpacks are ready to go. I've packed air cylinders in my backpack and I'm not sure if I can check them thru or not - I'll let you know in tomorrow evenings post. It's off to SF first thing in the morning after a stay at the hotel near LAX. Our 6:30am flight will mean that we have to be at the airport around 5:30 and we'll have to bring our bikes on the airport shuttle to check them in. My information says that we will be charged $50 per bike, but experience has shown that they might not charge us anything, or try to charge us $100-$200 per bike - we'll see. I'm looking forward to Gary seeing his new Trek Madone 6.5 for the first time, then getting on the bike and riding 75 miles to Santa Cruz tomorrow. Glad I brought my tools to do some adjusting cause Gary is going to need a few adjustments along the way.

The Planned Route - In Detail

Many of you know my wife Denise. She is the ultimate planner and organizer. I, on the other hand, utilize what has become known as the "Schaffer method", which is basically - "I'll worry about it when I have to". When my Friend Steve and I rode across the US, nothing was planned and I remember we bought maps along the way and slept in some pretty interesting places, including a few cemeteries (It was quiet and we didn't need to worry about getting hassled by the locals)

Back to my wife Denise. When she learned of our trip down the coast, she knew that she would need to plan and organize and map our route. She needed to find a tool to help her and she found Google Pedometer. She has planned and routed each of our planned days below. I hope Gary and I don't deviate too much from her route - maybe - just maybe, I'll sleep one night in a cemetery just for old times sake.

Day 1 #1 - SFO-Santa Cruz
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1655780 2.68 miles - highest climb is 678.81 feet

Day 2 #2 - Santa Cruz-Big Sur
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1656153 75.78 miles - two climbs of 582.53

Day 3 #3 - Big Sur-Cambria
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1658756 70 miles - 3 climbs (979, 610, 600)

Day 4 #4 - Cambria-Santa Maria
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1660834 75 miles no major climbs - rolling hills

Day 5 #5 - Santa Maria-Goleta
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1659125 62 miles - 3 climbs (550, 1000, 1100)

Day 6 #6 - Goleta-Santa Monica
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1660483 95 miles no major climbs - rolling hills

Day 7 #7 - Santa Monica- Dana Point - flat city streets - final hill climb of 600

San Francisco to LA - The Night Before

It's the night before I leave for my trip down the California coast with my brother Gary. Gary is traveling from Tours, France to ride with me from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I traveled to France last year to ride with Gary in France. We will meet at the airport tomorrow night and catch a flight to San Francisco early Saturday morning.

I will be riding my trusty Cervelo Soloist Carbon and Gary will be riding a new Trek Madone 6.5 built with parts from my now infamous "garage wrecked" Colnago. I find that parts from an older bike sometimes make great parts for a new bike. I also passed on some Kysirium wheels that I know Gary will enjoy. I got two bike boxes from my local bike store and have the bikes tentatively packed and ready to make the trip Saturday morning on Virgin American. I always worry when traveling with my bike and having to rely on it for transportation when I arrive at my destination. Guess I will need to call my wife to pick me up if I arrive in San Francisco and my bike is broken.

I'm looking forward to seeing Gary tomorrow night when he arrives from France. The weather looks good for our trip and I've packed 3 tubes, 1 tire, 3 air cartridges, 1 multi-tool, 1 crash kit, arm warmers, leg warmers, 1 pair socks, bib shorts, short sleeve jersey, rain jacket. I will be wearing a pair of jeans, polo shirt, and crocks on the plane and will change into my cycling gear when we land. I'll bring a razor, shaving cream, deodorant, tooth brush and toothpaste.