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Wednesday 21 November 2012
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Finale: Homeward bound...
Hazy sunshine brings a comfortable temperature to our ride this morning. We are soon heading through San Fernando, passing the station on a superb cycle path (could this be where the 'Last train to San Fernando' was heading?)
We stop at an unspoilt 1950's diner for second breakfast, and who should be inside - the local Sheriffs - who wave at us cheerily through the window as we dismount!
Then we head for the 18thC Mission, beautifully preserved in its extensive grounds.
Now we enter rock strewn canyon country, where the first Western movies were filmed. This is the old road by-passed by a Freeway, so no traffic! There is a steady climb over Susana Pass Road, and a drop into Simi Valley. Another great cycle path by the river provides some traffic-free miles and a birding opportunity - White-faced Ibis and Redwinged Blackbirds.
We are the first cyclists our Warmshowers hosts Bernie and Diana have had, as they are not on any national route. We spend a great evening with them and some of their neighbours.
Next morning we follow Bernie's route onto Mulholland Drive and down Topanga Canyon. As it is Saturday there are Lycra cyclists about and lots of folks heading down to Venice Beach. We meet up with Harriet right on schedule, and in time to celebrate her birthday: lunch at the Tasting Kitchen and retail therapy at Bloomingdales with an evening stroll on the pier at Santa Monica.
The election is happening at last after months of hype, "our" local library is coping as a polling station, with none of the 3hr queues occurring in Florida!
It only remains to package the bikes and fly home tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who helped us on the way.
Total tour miles: 3,217
We stop at an unspoilt 1950's diner for second breakfast, and who should be inside - the local Sheriffs - who wave at us cheerily through the window as we dismount!
Then we head for the 18thC Mission, beautifully preserved in its extensive grounds.
Now we enter rock strewn canyon country, where the first Western movies were filmed. This is the old road by-passed by a Freeway, so no traffic! There is a steady climb over Susana Pass Road, and a drop into Simi Valley. Another great cycle path by the river provides some traffic-free miles and a birding opportunity - White-faced Ibis and Redwinged Blackbirds.
We are the first cyclists our Warmshowers hosts Bernie and Diana have had, as they are not on any national route. We spend a great evening with them and some of their neighbours.
Next morning we follow Bernie's route onto Mulholland Drive and down Topanga Canyon. As it is Saturday there are Lycra cyclists about and lots of folks heading down to Venice Beach. We meet up with Harriet right on schedule, and in time to celebrate her birthday: lunch at the Tasting Kitchen and retail therapy at Bloomingdales with an evening stroll on the pier at Santa Monica.
The election is happening at last after months of hype, "our" local library is coping as a polling station, with none of the 3hr queues occurring in Florida!
It only remains to package the bikes and fly home tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who helped us on the way.
Total tour miles: 3,217
Location:Santa Clarita to Los Angeles
Thursday 1 November 2012
Epilogue Part 5: Sandy roads...
Hesperia is full of shopping malls, with fast food signs taller than the palm trees.
However, the desert is still all around. We take the opportunity to take a ramble on foot as it is so difficult to move across the sand on a bike! Jack Rabbits bounce away from us - they are just like our hares except their ears are translucent, to loose heat.
Tiny lizards nip everywhere and pale crickets hop about.
Back in the hotel, the CNN coverage of Hurricane Sandy shows the east coast weather worsening. The Tall Ship HMS Bounty (a replica vessel built for the film "Bounty") has sunk in the storm. The 16 crew abandoned ship, 14 are saved, one lady crew member drowned and the captain is missing. Eighty-plus homes have burnt down in New Jersey. Devastating.
We look on Google Streetview to see if there is a shoulder to ride on beside the only tarmaced road onwards to Palmdale, but it is impossible to differentiate, in their photos, between sand and tarmac with sand blown over it! As it is, next morning, the road across the desert has a shoulder some of the way, however dozens of red, ready-mix concrete lorries charge past us, just after the shoulder disappears and we really need it!
Then we are passed by a snow plough! Turns out they are used to shove the sand back off the highway.
We cycle across Lake Los Angeles which, like all the "lakes" around here, has evaporated away to a flat salty area. Edwards Air Force Base is nearby, so if one of the test flights misses the runway there is a featureless expanse to land on. The first Space Shuttle landings took place here.
We have been above 3000ft for the last week but after Palmdale the road is mostly down hill. A very enjoyable cycle now along the old, Solidad Canyon Road, empty of traffic as a new Freeway by-passes this valley. The picturesque, desolate San Gabriel Mountains are close by to the south, for miles.
There is one tunnel, but no problem as it is short and traffic free.
Tour miles to date: 3,133
However, the desert is still all around. We take the opportunity to take a ramble on foot as it is so difficult to move across the sand on a bike! Jack Rabbits bounce away from us - they are just like our hares except their ears are translucent, to loose heat.
Tiny lizards nip everywhere and pale crickets hop about.
Back in the hotel, the CNN coverage of Hurricane Sandy shows the east coast weather worsening. The Tall Ship HMS Bounty (a replica vessel built for the film "Bounty") has sunk in the storm. The 16 crew abandoned ship, 14 are saved, one lady crew member drowned and the captain is missing. Eighty-plus homes have burnt down in New Jersey. Devastating.
We look on Google Streetview to see if there is a shoulder to ride on beside the only tarmaced road onwards to Palmdale, but it is impossible to differentiate, in their photos, between sand and tarmac with sand blown over it! As it is, next morning, the road across the desert has a shoulder some of the way, however dozens of red, ready-mix concrete lorries charge past us, just after the shoulder disappears and we really need it!
Then we are passed by a snow plough! Turns out they are used to shove the sand back off the highway.
We cycle across Lake Los Angeles which, like all the "lakes" around here, has evaporated away to a flat salty area. Edwards Air Force Base is nearby, so if one of the test flights misses the runway there is a featureless expanse to land on. The first Space Shuttle landings took place here.
We have been above 3000ft for the last week but after Palmdale the road is mostly down hill. A very enjoyable cycle now along the old, Solidad Canyon Road, empty of traffic as a new Freeway by-passes this valley. The picturesque, desolate San Gabriel Mountains are close by to the south, for miles.
There is one tunnel, but no problem as it is short and traffic free.
Tour miles to date: 3,133
Location:Hesperia to Santa Clarita
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