Daily Miles: 88
Total Miles: 3191
Avg: 9.9
Max: 34.4
Time on the bike: 08:56:31
This was the longest day on the bike by over an hour. The riding was pretty difficult today, as it was all uphill for about 50 miles, with a few minor downhills in between, mostly at the end of the day. I wanted to get as close as possibly to San Diego so that I could have a short ride in tommorrow to try and avoid a wind warning and rain showers possible in the afternoon. Also, I’m tired of riding the Southern Tier and mostly just want it to be over.
I climbed up into the mountains today and saw familiar signs. Campo, Lake Morena, Mt. Laguna. All of them stops along the Pacific Crest Trail. I passed the PCT at Boulder Oaks Campground near Interstate 8. I had forgotten this part and I imagine I’ve forgotten a lot what the trail looks like. It tends to happen when the trail is 2,650 miles. It seems like a lifetime ago that Carolyn and I were on the PCT, but it’s only been 5 months. I miss it. It’s such a great trail- possibly the best.
I passed an intersting couple from England on a tandem bicycle. They had just started from San Diego yeaterday. They looked clean and had matching jerseys on that said “Colorado Cycling Club.” I suppose if you are going to ride a tandem you should look coordinated. Apparently the gal had lived in Colorado before, but the guy had a heavy English accent.
“So how’s it been?” the guy asked.
I knew better than to answer this honestly and I said, “It’s been quite the trip. You have a lot to look forward to.” I didn’t mention the quality of what that future held for them. Or all the crappy roads, awful drivers and debilitating headwinds. Half the fun was discovering these things out for yourself and working through the tough bits. It’s all about the surprises and unexpected events and meetings with people. You can’t really quantify those experiences. They either happen or they don’t.
“Sounds like it will be fun,” he said. “You’ll probably run into a large supported group tour. I think they started today. There’s about 20 or 30 people. It’s organized through some company, not sure of the name, but you wouldn’t believe the price!”
“How much?” I asked.
“9000 dollars. And they sleep in tents!”
Damn. People would pay that much for a supported tour of the Southern Tier? I couldn’t really believe it. With that kind of cash, I could tour almost all year long. But who am I to judge? If that’s the experience you want then get out there and ride.
We bid each other farewell and I was on my way again, trying to get the last climbs out of the way. I wanted to get just past Pine Valley which was the last of the major climbs before it dropped back down into the desert floor and into San Diego. That way, tommorrow would be almost 100% downhill, and the phrase, ‘It’s all down hill from here’, would be accurate and fitting for the final day.
I’m camped at this overpriced campsite tonight. It’s truly a piece of garbage, but I didn’t have any other options. My daylight was running out fast and I wasn’t able to make it into Alpine before it got dark. When I arrived, the supported tour group was there. There were too many tents to count, and each one had a number on it. What a life these people have. Come into camp after a rough ride carrying nothing but some water and a peanut butter sandwhich and have your tent all set up and ready for you, a hot meal waiting and a big comfy chair to sit down in. These people have it figured out. They really do.
But not me. I lugged my bike and all my gear up here on my own. I pitched my tent almost in the dark and then cooked a crappy bowl of Ramen noodles with Spam.
These people don’t know what they are missing. They really have no idea.
Bring it on home Dom!!!!
DC