To LA

December 5th and 6th

Santa Barbara is about 90 miles from LA, a one day push, or a more leisurely 2 day cruise. Given the company and scenery, what's the rush. Anyway Tim and Eddy tour in a more coffee shop and cake type way and that sounds like an outstanding plan. We're not sure what to expect from the next couple of days. Think Los Angeles; your next thought is seldom "hmmmm sounds cycle friendly". I'm a bit worried we might get munched in the sprawl and traffic....

Still, got some stunning beaches to admire for now and we'll worry about that later. After some great riding along the flats with Tim and Eddy, we hit Malibu! A sign helpfully informing us there are "27 miles miles of scenic beauty". I'm thinking "that sign should be in braille". If you can see the sign, there's a fair chance you might just have noticed already. It's gorgeous.

How very baywatch....



Imagine the views from the hillside palaces....



This is our lunch stop....



And dispelling all fears, this is the ride along the outskirts of LA, as busy highway 101 drops us directly on to a tarmac strip along mile after mile of golden sand. How very fine...



Finally we are on our approach to LA and I contact Mr Michael Maynes, a ciclista legend of gargantuan proportions, and sometime cycling partner from previous rides in Argentina and Chile. He agrees to meet us at the Santa Monica pier so we can stay with him at his home in Manhattan Beach.

Beers while we wait....



Then time to enjoy the fair on the pier....



And meet some other eccentric characters on tandems, plus Steve and Gary on a beautifully restored 1975 Schwinn and high rise cruiser....



Saying farewell to Tim and Eddy after 2 days of fantastic riding. Guys it was a lot of fun. Memorable!



Then the old crew is back together for brief ride into the LA sunset....