Google Maps, Please Don't Take Us There Again...

Who is going to make us SMILE today with a donation to Kids with Cancer?  IT COULD BE YOU!  Click HERE to donate!

Total distance ridden: 1,532 miles
Cumulative elevation: 82,867 feet

Today's ride profile:  click HERE
Day 29 Vlog: click HERE

I was talking to Katelyn yesterday as we rolled out of Santa Monica on a very winding route through the city--one that had us on probably 15 different roads in the space of 3 miles.  I asked her how she would do if she was the one navigating instead of just following and trusting that I know where I am taking us.  She thought about it for a minute and then responded, "now I know why your beard is so white."   

The navigation part of this ride has had its easy and hard days.  Up in Oregon, you got on Highway 101, rode 60 miles and then pulled over into the motel at the side of the road.  In San Francisco and LA, it has required my to have eyes on the road, on my phone, on my daughter, and on the traffic--all at the same time.  But even before I get to that point, I am usually awake hours before Katelyn and going through the day's route is part of how I spend my early mornings.  There are actually three different Apps I consult.  First, I use Map My Ride--that is what you see in the link above.  I like it because it gives a rough outline of what our climbing profile will look like.  Second, I look at the Adventure Cycling Maps that were made to detail the route chosen for cyclists down the Pacific Coast.  These are great but many times are longer due to diversions for safer roads, a scenic stretch or some other reason.  Finally, I consult with Google Maps; that app lets you punch in a route just for cycling and it does a great job of getting you onto the local bike paths near the beach or through town.  After I consult all three sites, our route picks and chooses what we think will work best for us.

Yesterday, we followed an awesome/terrible/awesome route.   We started riding around noon--these 40 mile days are spoiling us--and pedaled through Santa Monica back to the ocean where we picked up the bike paths along the beach for miles and miles.  These are the most relaxing part of the entire trip and the best thing about yesterday?  NO SCOOTERS!  It made for much easier riding for sure.  After lunch in Redondo Beach, the road turned inland and we got ready to tackle the part of the route that I was not looking forward to:  crossing through Torrance and West Carson.  These were much rougher areas and Google Maps (in its attempt to get us off busier roads) put us into some residential streets that we just had no business going down.  These were areas where I just didn't want to get a flat tire; and to make it worse, the roads were the roughest roads we had ridden on during the entire trip; I kept waiting for something to break.   During one stretch on a super busy road, I had my first real moment of anxiety.  There was crazy fast moving traffic and a car managed to pull in between me and Katelyn where I couldn't see her.  There was nowhere for me to pull over and when I was finally able to get to the side and let the car go around me, Katelyn was not there!  I quickly flipped around and went backwards against the traffic.  Apparently she had an issue with one of her bags coming loose from the rough road and had to pull over.  I helped her fix her bag and we continued on through that bad area.  

Enough about that part--back to awesome again.  After the chaos above, we were directed back onto a bike path heading towards the Aquarium of the Pacific.  They were kind enough to provide us with a couple passes to check out their exhibits.  We rolled in at 5:00 and only had an hour since they close at 6:00 but they took our bicycles inside to watch them and we got our wildlife faces on.  A couple comments on our experience.  First, the exhibit staff was incredible.  They were friendly and helpful. Once, when I asked what a certain fish was and the lady did not know, she asked a colleague who also didn't know.  As I got ready to move on, the lady was on the radio with others and didn't stop until I had my answer.    Anyway, the aquarium was fantastic--it was definitely worthy of a few more hours since we didn't see a ton of stuff but we had a great time there.  Be sure to check out the shark/ray pools--our favorite!

Our destination for the night was the home of the local Bishop in Long Beach.  It was only 8 miles from the aquarium so an easy spin.  When we were a quarter mile away, Katelyn called out that she had a flat.  That makes #4 for the trip.  Instead of changing it on the side of the road, we opted to walk the bike the last few hundred yards and fix it at the house.  They had a spaghetti dinner waiting for us when we arrived and Katelyn got to go see some chickens in the backyard--it's funny how simple little things like that mean so much to her.  Later on, still hungry, Katelyn was able to fry a couple eggs from those same chickens--probably laid that same day! 

Ok, here's what's on for today:  we have 45 miles to San Clemente where some friends of ours live.  They are walking distance from the beach so we will hopefully finally take a dip in the Pacific Ocean.    Here's hoping for some smooth roads and a nice safe route! 

What are they all looking at?  Maybe I should photograph that instead...

This was our favorite jellyfish--photo taken under a black light.

The home we stayed in last night has chickens!  If it is an animal and it won't to to kill you, it is going to be picked up.

Katelyn visiting the shark tank.  For those that don't know, long before she was my ride partner, Katelyn was my diving partner.  She loves chasing the reef sharks whenever she can find them!

Where's all your teeth buddy? 

This guy needs an orthodontist in a major way... 

I took this picture right after the roads that we though would kill us-- super  duper rough, semis right next to you,  inconsiderate drivers, and then we pulled back onto this bike path and the world seemed right again.

this was the only picture I snapped of Katelyn during the crossing from Redondo Beach to the Aquarium.  Perhaps it had to do with the beautiful scenery in the background? 

Katelyn thought it was cool that this was painted on the wall of  somebody's yard.  This was in Santa Monica--part of the ride where we felt we could stop and not be in peril. 

Optical illusion attempt #2: trying to "reach through" the glass and hold the fish.  Better than the palm tree illusion?  Worse?  Should we just give up?  You decide...