Day 21, September 29, 2007
Solvang, CA to Oxnard, CA
83.8 mph, 13.2 mph, 6h 19m 17s (max speed 34.5 mph)
Up at 6:15, 7:00 continental breakfast at hotel - 2 cheddar egg omelets, 2 danish, yogurt, raisin bran, and orange juice, 8:00 load luggage, 8:05 on the road.
Today's ride started with a series of up and down rollers and then a major 1,500 foot climb for 5 miles. Most of this climb was about 7 - 8% grade (refer to route sheet). When we were at pointer (1), I took several pics of beautiful Ynez Valley. We didn't go over that bridge, we rode on the road under it. That road continued to weave back and forth until we were actually 300 feet above that bridge. Before we reached the summit we were told by another cyclist that just north of where we were, there was a forest fire this summer that was the biggest fire in California history. It burned for 2 months (July 4 to September 4) and consumed 240,000 acres. An investigation determined that a worker at a private ranch had been doing some welding and some sparks started the fire. Pointer (2) is indicating the location of the "Old Stage Coach route". (see pic of plaque) I rode down this route myself for a mile and it is hard to believe that a stage coach could navigate this old route. It was very steep, narrow, winding and full of pot holes. The last 4 miles of the descent was a nice paved road, but it had many hairpin switch back curves that made it a very "technical" descent. It was necessary to concentrate very hard and use my brakes a lot. That said, it was a fun downhill ride.
We were soon on the road to Santa Barbara. This was a city that was a happening place, with lots of people and traffic everywhere as we rode along the waterfront. There were many good photo opps but time was a factor. We didn't stop for lunch, we took advantage of the SAG's to fill up our stomachs and we still arrived at the hotel at 4PM, which is quite late. That doesn't give us much time to do anything before RAP and dinner.
I took several pics of what I call the "motor home summer waterfront beach house". There is a section of the road to Santa Barbara where motor homes park bumper to bumper along the road. They stay there for several months and the beach is their yard and playground. They, probably 200 families, eat and sleep there.
Many of us were very tired from the ride today. Much of the road surface was a "chip seal" that wears you out. The next 2 days are shorter. The ride is almost over. Monday it ends and we all go home! Tomorrow we ride 50 miles to Venice Beach.
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