West Coast 5 - The ride past LA and into San Diego to the finish line.

Our last week of the ride started in Cambria and finished in San Diego - another 350+ miles and quite a bit of climbing surrounded by increasing heat, the further south we travelled.

Unsurprisingly, there was much to see and enjoy along the way and many photo opportunties, some captured and some missed. For example, we passed a motorbike shop that specialised in choppers but it was after yet another climb and I rode passed it and thought I could stop and take some photos but by the time I really thought of it, I was already a quarter of a mile past the shop!! This happens quite a bit when you are cycling and you see something, think about it but given that turning around is awkward and means stopping, crossing the road, then crossing the road again when there is a fair bit of traffic around, before you know it, the opportunity has gone. There have been similar missed opportunities throughout the ride. Nevertheless here are a few photos from this last week:

The other thing that happens on these rides is that the timeframe shoots past you and before you know it, the ride is nearly finished and then its gone, over! The ride usually follows this routine:

1. You spend a few days setting up the procedure,

2. You then have your standard routine,

3. Then the process becomes familiar

4. Then it becomes a slick operation

5. Before you know it, the ride is over.

   
   

   This last week has flown by and now I’ve finished the ride and I’m staying with friends in Arizona before flying home next week. Hang on a moment while I catch my breath!!

San Diego was lovely and, in my opinion, much prettier than Los Angeles which was dominated by wonderful beaches. San Diego had much more variation including sight of wildlife living alongside humanity, as well as lovely beaches. Great to see!!

The ride finished in a park, close to the beach, and we all a ‘circled up’ for photos, farewell hugs, sharing memories and the presentation of stickers to commemorate the ride.

Final ‘Circle Up’

For me, I also needed to say farewell to ‘Uncle Sam’, my bike, as he would be travelling back in the trailer to Georgia, before going home to Atlanta with Mark Murphy. That way he will be ready for my next ride, if and when I return to the USA in the future.

My faithful ‘Uncle Sam’

On a personal note, this has been a tough ride for both myself and Elaine back home, as Hank, our rather elderly dog, has not been well and whilst cancer has not yet been found in a lump on his face, he has not been well and has been rather lethargic. I must admit I have shed more than a few tears at the prospect of losing him and I may well change my future plans to be there for him before he finally crosses ‘the rainbow bridge’.

Please do not forget this was a charity bike ride. My effort was not for my own benefit but to raise funds for others so please help me make a difference. https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/6034/usa-west-coast-charity-bicycle-ride/