First view of the Pacific

I'm running out of superlatives I'm afraid...


Part one of today involved a 70 mile run across something that looked like miles of the Shropshire hills. Beautiful rolling landscape with cattle, the odd farm (or is it ranch) and little else. A bikers paradise. I know this because I saw 10 bikers and 2 cars (in 70 miles!).








The road at first climbed through about 10 miles of tight bends (I was going to say ciquanes but I clearly don't know how to spell it) then 40 miles across a big flat bit (because I can't spell platue...), followed by 20 miles of sweeping bends down towards the coast (at least I can add up). The flat bit was more like a roller coaster actually. No bends, but up and down like a massive series of hump back bridges. Fun fun fun.



I was looking forward to getting back down to sea level for part two to get warm. Its been over 100 degrees last week. Boy, was I ever wrong...

After lunch I put on the winter gloves, a fleece beneath the jacket and my over trousers. It was blowing a gail off the sea and cold cold cold!

Don't get me wrong, what followed was fabulous. Highway 1 is famous for its scenery and I'm really glad I took Bethany's advice and took this 100 mile section.


The ocean looked fantastic; the white horses showed it was at least a Force 6 out there. The hills to the right were stunning. I had lunch at Dorns as recommended by David. Clam chowder was the best. So my plan to follow the advice of locals is still holding :o)

I stopped to look at the seals basking on the beach. This is the time of year they come ashore to molt. What a sight...

I need to find a Harley dealer again soon. Roci's missfire hiccup has become a bit of a cough, and I don't want him to expire in the middle of a desert! The new plugs didn't solve the problem and I suspect its still the timing as I told the last dealer. The poor woman who runs the motel I'm staying in, thought one of her room had exploded when Roci backfired on switch off. "I wondered what had happened" she said,running out into the carpark :o)

So there's my day tomorrow. Harley dealer, Cannery Row to pay homage to Steinbeck (one I haven't read yet - pick it up tomorrow perhaps) and a haircut. Starting to look like Worzel Gummage.

A grand day during which I saw the ocean as I passed the 5000 mile mark...