I’m blown away by how quickly fog can roll in on the coast and cool everything down. It can go from hot and sunny to a complete wet, foggy mess in a matter of minutes. This video will give you an idea of the two extremes I see most days.
Watch this video if you’re having a stressful day…or watch it if you wanna be inspired by nature’s beauty…or watch it just cause you’ve watched the first 20 videos and need to keep up to date. Whatever your reason, you’ll LOVE this one!
And here’s my article in the DailyCamera about the experience
or just read it here….
BIG SUR, Calif. — Every day I pedal farther south, the landscape gets more spectacular.
I’d been told that the Big Sur area was breathtaking, but I was skeptical. I grew up watching the Big Sur Waterbed commercials, and I don’t remember it looking all that great. Besides, I had been treated to some pretty amazing coastline for the past 1,300 miles, and I couldn’t imagine it getting any more beautiful.
Boy, was I wrong. Just as I pedaled south of the huge strawberry farms near Monterey, the magic began to take shape. The ocean seemed to turn even more turquoise than normal, a shade of blue I had never seen.
As I rode up my first hill of the day, waves crashed loudly and the salty ocean smell tickled my nose. Usually a thick layer of fog obstructs the views, but the sky was clear and blue, revealing rows of jagged green cliffs as far as the eye could see.
I stopped at every overlook along Route 1 and snapped photos, hoping that my little camera could somehow capture the magic so I can someday show off to my grandkids. It’s hard to make any progress when you’re constantly pausing, but this wasn’t a day for pedaling fast.
I wasn’t the only one in awe; all the other tourists seemed just as hypnotized as I was.
This type of stunning beauty can be dangerous for a cyclist. I found myself staring off to my right-hand side far too often when I should have been paying attention to the curvy road in front of me. Luckily, the only people on this road are tourists driving just slightly faster than I ride — no high-speed logging trucks barreling down the roads here.
For more than 60 miles, the terrain continued up and down steep hills. Sometimes I was high up on a ledge and could only make out a sea of blue, and other times I was near sea level, listening to the waves crash and the occasional bark of a sea lion.
It was my longest day on the bike, but my body didn’t seem to mind. I was able to convince myself that I wasn’t tired, even though there were plenty of tough hills. If I were in Kansas doing a 100-mile ride, I’d be crying about body pains, but this area seems to have magical powers that soothe the body.
It’s a shame that my brother Ethan wasn’t here to witness this day with me. Those darn “real” jobs and limited vacation time.
For the first 1,200 miles, he was my right-hand man, experiencing every inch of the journey with me. I miss him.
All day long, I was whooping and hollering in excitement, a routine we did together to psyche each other up. The only people to hear my screams this time, though, were tourists in convertible sports cars.
Read more: Van Duzer: Big Sur coastline steals focus from the road – Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/get-out/ci_15977020#ixzz0yRhkEvLR
DailyCamera.com
Riding a bike is therapeutic. Riding a bike beside a beautiful ocean for 100 miles is even more therapeutic. I’m blown away by the beauty I see on a daily basis out here…and I hear it’s gonna get even better as I pass Big Sur!
Here’s a video from San Fransisco to Santa Cruz with my high school buddy Billy. Ethan is far far away in NYC, I miss him a lot but Billy was a good replacement for the day.
I promised my mom that I would safely deliver Ethan to San Francisco. Well….WE’RE HERE! Ethan flies out tonight, I’m sad that I’ll be losing my right hand man. It’s been an unforgettable brother bonding extravaganza and we loved every SECOND of the journey! Thank you ETHAN for taking time off work to make this happen. Until the next adventure…
Check out my article in the Daily Camera about our cruise in the Avenue of the Giants.
or read it here:
MENDOCINO, Calif. — I’m in the land of huge trees and half expecting dinosaurs to pop out of the forests and chase me down. I feel like I’m on another planet.
Colorado has some pretty aspen groves, but they don’t compare with the mighty redwoods.
For three days, we’ve been pedaling through some of the most magical terrain in the world. The giants appeared almost immediately after crossing the border from Oregon into California. The majestic coastline is no longer the highlight; it’s the redwood forests.
Good old Highway 101 led us straight into a lush forest just after heading south from Crescent City. In a matter of miles, the trees on the side of the road morphed from typical pines to giants as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
Our first big hill of the entire route started here, and my legs burned as I pedaled up 1,200 feet. I’d laugh at an ascent like this in Colorado, but starting from sea level made this a real challenge. The fact that I’m pulling a trailer with all our gear also adds about 50 pounds of difficulty.
Sweat dribbled down my grimacing face as I struggled up the hill, but I couldn’t waste energy on being tired. The scenery was too inspiring to complain.
After getting to the top of the “mountain,” we enjoyed our surroundings even more. The afternoon was spent with our heads cocked straight up, gazing in awe at the huge trees. I usually try to keep my eyes on the road when descending, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s a good way to crash, but the consequences were worth it.
This seven-mile section of redwoods was only a teaser to what was looming down the road. A day later, we were treated to a 32-mile break from hectic Highway 101 as we entered the Avenue of the Giants.
Being on a bike is the perfect way to enjoy these forests. We pedaled just enough to keep the bikes moving forward. I felt bad for the people in vehicles who had roofs over their heads.
Ethan, my brother, and I took four hours to travel what would normally take a couple of hours. I felt like we’d be disrespecting their legacy if we flew through.
I always knew that redwoods were big, but I had no idea that they could reach 20 feet in diameter and heights up to 360 feet. Their sheer size is impressive, but what really impresses me is that they can be 2,000 years old.
I’ve seen some amazing landscapes from the seat of my bike, but the Avenue of the Giants has to be the most scenic of all the scenic byways in America.
It’s an educational journey, as well. Every mile or so, you can pull off and read about the history of the coastal redwoods. One of the most sobering facts I learned was that only 4 percent of the original forests remain today. After the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, redwood logging took off. I love looking at those beautiful Victorian homes in San Francisco, but most of them are made from these trees.
Emerging from the Avenue was a sad moment. I wanted to turn around and pedal back to the happy zone. We were melting when we returned to Highway 101 — it was the hottest day of the year in this area, 107 degrees.
Riding these 32 miles was a gift from nature. The trees protected us from the obnoxious truck noise on the nearby highway, and they created a tunnel of shade that cooled us from the blazing heat of the day.
I’m forever in debt to these trees for providing one of the most memorable days I’ve ever had on a bike.
DailyCamera.com
32 miles of beautiful Redwood forests…best seen by bike!
Redwoods are HUGE! It’s heaven riding around Northern California, it feels like I’m in Jurassic park. Check out my latest videos and come with me on a virtual tour of the Coast Redwoods.
We’ve been loving the coast of Oregon but tomorrow in 27.8 quick miles we’ll be into California! We’re psyched to see some redwoods, I hear them some big trees!
Here’s a quick video for your viewing pleasure
Life is lovely traveling on two wheels! Wanna see just how lovely? Check out my latest two videos and it’ll give you a taste. Have a great weekend, I know I will!
And here’s a story in the DailyCamera detailing our ‘ferry’ experience in Washington.
We crossed into Oregon smack dab in the middle of GoonieVille in the charming little town of Astoria. It’s one of my favorite adventure movies of all time and perhaps was the inspiration behind my adventures. All is well here in Oregon, Ethan and I are having a grand time together. Here’s a couple recent videos to keep you up to date with the journey!
