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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Moonstone
26 October 2022
From my temporary abode on the coast, yesterday I pedaled north on Highway 1 and explored terrain not visited by me in years, as well as some terra incognita, completely new to me.Today I pedaled south to Moonstone Beach and Cambria, then turned inland, leaving the ocean behind for a while. Like yesterday's ride, today the Ogre took me to a few places where I've pedaled before, as well as some previously unknown roads.
Also like yesterday, the Ogre and I probably spent less time rolling than we did gawking, taking photos, sitting in the sun, watching the surf roll in, and generally just screwing around. Sounds like a perfect excursion to the coast, eh?
On the road at 10:30, pedaling south on Highway 1 toward Cambria.
A little cooler this morning. Not quite as windy. Highest reading on my anemometer was 10 MPH, but I was mostly in more sheltered areas today.
Hey, dude, where are all your buddies?
Oh, there they are.
View north.
From Highway 1 I turned onto Moonstone Beach Drive.
Moonstone Beach is the high-rent district. I only stay at one of the fancy Moonstone places when my ace support crew is with me.
Splash!
Moonstone Beach.
Even the piles of driftwood are fancier.
From Moonstone Beach I pedaled into downtown Cambria.
I could tell right away something is up. Turns out Cambria is having a big "Halloween scarecrow" jamboree, and these kinds of tableaux with costumed mannequins are all over the place.
Say "Hi" to Dorothy and the gang.
It's actually "the Cambria Scarecrow Festival," and here's more info.
Not sure if this is part of the Halloween competition.
Looks more like my lead-out train when I'm sprinting to a finish in the Tour de France.
Beyond downtown Cambria I saw this sign for Santa Rosa Creek Road.
Heck! This must be the way to get back home to Sonoma County. I'll give it a go.
Within a mile or two, I left artsy, touristy Cambria far behind and I was well out into the countryside on a very nice, quiet road for pedaling.
But the Halloween competition seems to extend into the rural areas as well.
Yep, looks like I'm back in Sonoma County.
Eventually I found my way back over to Highway 1 and headed north toward the low-rent district and my humble abode for a few nights.
I only saw about a half-dozen other bicyclists on the road today, but I didn't spend very much time on Highway 1, which is definitely the main cycle route.
Note the wide shoulders.
From Highway 1 I kept checking out the side roads, looking for some hilltop views of the ocean.
I found some dirt, which pleased the Ogre.
Ah, this is almost the kind of view I was looking for.
Old Grumble-Face rides uphill.
Old Grumble-Face rides downhill.
Old Grumble-Face dismounts.
What's this? Another Halloween decoration?
A little farther up Highway 1 I had to stop and put my telephoto on this guy.
Not a decoration.
These zebras—around 150 of them—are supposedly descendents of William Randolph Hearst's private zoo up by the castle. I don't know if that's true, but it was pretty cool to see all these black and white stripes along the road. Here's some info.
The Ogre wanted to chase them, but I wouldn't allow it.
Date: 26 October 2022
Time: 10:30 - 2:30
Weather: 55-65°, sunny and windy
Route: Highway 1, Moonstone Beach, Santa Rosa Creek Road, etc
Distance: 27 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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