November 29

28 miles, 8.3 mph, 2,100' elevation gain
(Los Angeles to La Canada Flintridge, CA)


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Highlights: more nice weather, worst urban riding conditions since British Columbia, time for a week off to spend time with relatives

Journal: [to come]

Me at Bob's Big Boy (Burbank)

Me, Art & Dan (Hollywood)

Me, Bea & Art (Hollywood)

An equestrian-friendly neighborhood (Burbank)

Just For Fun

64 miles, 10.0 mph, 690' elevation gain
(Irvine to Los Angeles, CA)


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Highlights: perfect weather, 21 miles of bike paths along San Gabriel & L.A. "rivers", urban street riding, no attractive scenery

Journal: [to come]

Brady & I both about to head off to work (Irvine)

Ominous warning on the San Gabriel River bike path (Long Beach)

View across the L.A. "river"/forest/dumpsite (north of downtown Los Angeles)

Me, Richard & Precious (Los Angeles)

Taking The Long Way Around

34 miles, 10.5 mph, 680' elevation gain
(Sunset Beach to Irvine, CA)


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Highlights: started late due to morning rain, finished my 11,137-mile ride around America where it began in March 2003, continued thru the O.C. on 23 miles of bike paths, celebrated with an extra-large frozen banana & sushi dinner

Journal: [to come]

Back where I started...11,137 miles ago! (Sunset Beach)

Surf City USA (Huntington Beach)

On the strand (Newport Beach)

Upper Newport Bay coastal wetlands (Newport Beach)

Bizarre section of Peter's Canyon Wash trail (Irvine)

Angelique, me, Brady & Clancy (Irvine)

November 26

46 miles, 9.6 mph, 1450' elevation gain
(Manhattan Beach to Sunset Beach, CA)


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Highlights: another beautiful day, breakfast with relatives, forgot three water bottles, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach bike path, amazing sunset, reaching Orange County (less than 2 miles from the official finish line)

Journal: [to come]

Me, Ed, Denise & Michael, Donna (Manhattan Beach)

Along the Hollywood Riviera (Redondo Beach)

Last view of the South Bay (Palos Verdes Estates)

Bike-friendly Palos Verdes Drive (Rancho Palos Verdes)

Port of Los Angeles (from San Pedro)

Where in the world is the Queen Mary? (Long Beach)

November 25

52 miles, 10.6 mph, 1580' elevation gain
(Point Magu State Park to Redondo Beach, CA)


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Highlights: worried about both tires, absolutely glorious morning weather, surfers, 18 miles of L.A. County bike paths, lots of people near the beach, being greeted by relatives, returning to Hermosa Beach

Journal: [to come]

Malibu...where the beautiful people live (Malibu)

Stacie & Gryphon, me, Marty & Missy (Will Rogers State Beach)

Me (bad hair day) & Bryn (Will Rogers State Park)

Live beside the ocean (Santa Monica)

Where Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run (Santa Monica Pier)

Where are the muscles? (Venice Beach)

Bikes & boats (Marina Del Rey)

At the finish line!!! (Hermosa Beach)

Me, Allie, Tanice & Dean...back where it all started in March 2003 (Hermosa Beach)

A fitting end to a memorable day (Redondo Beach)

November 24

59 miles, 11.4 mph, 1140' elevation gain
(Santa Barbara to Point Magu State Park, CA)


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Highlights: ocean spray, bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 101, Ventura County beaches, two flat tires

Journal: I've spent much of the past week riding along the beautiful rugged central California coast from Carmel to San Simeon, visiting the spectacular Hearst Castle, then continuing south thru the farmlands and vineyards of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The weather has been near-perfect with highs in the mid-60's and slight tailwinds. Yesterday I left the Danish- influenced town of Solvang and climbed up & over the final pass (elevation 925') of my trip. Today I will be heading into the greater Los Angeles area along the Ventura County coast - it should be an easy ride (no more hills!), although I will be riding along busy Highway 101 for much of the day.

Serene beach bike path (Santa Barbara)

Purple daze (Summerland)

Trainspotting (Carpinteria)

Bumper-to-bumper (northwest of Ventura)

Surf's up (Dulah)

Ocean sunset (Point Magu State Park)

November 23

50 miles, 11.1 mph, 1840' elevation gain
(Solvang to Santa Barbara, CA)


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Highlights: 50 miles in 5 hours, slight anxiety at departure, strong north winds around Gaviota Pass, lots of traffic on Highway 101, nice wide shoulders & good scenery, bike-friendly surface streets, vegan Thanksgiving meal with cousins, Fast Food Nation

Journal: [to come]

Early morning scenery (south of Solvang)

Gaviota Pass (Gaviota State Park)

Old Highway 101 bridge (west of Rufugio Beach State Park)

Me, Tere & Pepper (Santa Barbara)

November 22

59 miles, 10.1 mph, 2250' elevation gain
(Arroyo Grande to Solvang, CA)


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Highlights: farming trucks, strawberry fields & vineyards, very pleasant gradual ascent, early arrival in Solvang

Journal: [to come]

Strawberry fields forever (near Garey)

Country winery residence (between Sisquoc & Los Olivos)

Adorable miniature horses (between Los Olivos & Solvang)

Obligatory tourist photo (downtown Solvang)

Me, Zoe (cat), Robert & Annette (Solvang)

November 21

59 miles, 10.1 mph, 1730' elevation gain
(San Simeon Village to Arroyo Grande, CA)


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Highlights: dense morning fog, wide shoulders on Highway 1, tummy ache, first southern California beach town, new rear brake pad, frustrating (hilly) afternoon trying for a shortcut

Journal: [to come]

Dense morning fog (Cambria)

Low-stress shoulder (south of Harmony)

Morro Rock & Morro Bay Harbor (Morro Bay)

Morro Bay (Morro Bay State Park)

Happy cows (near San Luis Obispo)

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (San Luis Obispo)