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After several weeks of waiting around for various things to fall into place during my month of east coast winter, I got an idea in my head that would not leave. I wanted to get on a bike and ride next to the Pacific. And so I did.
I acquired a little white steed in San Francisco and outfitted it with a rack that could hold my bare essentials, including a tent for camping along the way. Guided by a life-saving book called “Bicycling the Pacific Coast,” I started pedaling south.
The trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which ended up taking me 7 days of riding (with a few days off along the way), was a great exercise for both my body and mind. Having returned home from Africa several pounds lighter to the point of feeling unwell, I started my biking slowly. By the time I reached Big Sur, I was able to do 70-mile days of hilly terrain without feeling strained. I met all types of interesting people who were doing their own versions of the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route, all for their own reasons. I ended each day at a beautiful campsite, watching the sun set over the Pacific.
I did not take tons of photos, because it would have meant stopping every time I saw beautiful things- which was practically the entire ride. These are a few I did take along the way.
