On Sunday, we relaxed at our friends' beach house in La Selva Beach. Gregg took care of our laundry, we savored some homemade meals, and shared a pleasant bottle of wine. The gentlemen indulged in naps and spent the day lounging on the couch, watching football games. Later, we all gathered in the jacuzzi under the moonlight. Cat took pleasure in an 8-mile beach walk.
Today, the guys departed from the beach house around 7:50 a.m. under foggy skies and a weather forecast indicating the possibility of light rain. True to form, weather forecasts can sometimes be inaccurate. While passing through farming fields in Watsonville and Monterey, heavy rain suddenly poured down on them, leaving them completely soaking wet. At 11:00 a.m., the Gregg got in touch with Cat to meet up at a bagel shop in Carmel by the Sea where Kevin & Gregg arrived dripping wet, leaving a sizable puddle on the floor that the shopkeeper had to clean up. Cat showed up with fresh clothes for the guys, who then spent about thirty minutes in the car with the heater on full blast to warm up and wait for the rain to stop. After a delay of approximately an hour and a half, they continued their journey north along the coast.
Continuing our journey through Carmel along the mesmerizing coast of Big Sur, we were greeted by breathtaking cliffside views that left us in awe. The iconic Bixby Bridge, famously showcased in the popular TV series Big Little Lies, proved to be a major highlight for the multitude of tourists flocking to the area. The ride today ended just south of Pfieffer State Park where the road is completely closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians due to a hugh land slide that occurred in January 2024 and forced us to retrace our steps back to Monterey and detour around the mountain via Highway 101, embarking on a lengthy 2.5-hour drive south towards San Simeon, where the guys will resume their adventure on the other side of the roadblock tomorrow. This little detour transformed our day into a test of endurance, delaying our hotel check-in until the late hours of the evening, nearing 9:00 p.m. Despite the extended journey, the beauty of the coastal landscape and the anticipation of what lay ahead kept our spirits high as we navigated through the scenic wonders of California's rugged coastline.
Today's ride spanned 80 miles, featuring an elevation gain of 5,545 feet. The total ride duration was 5 hours and 32 minutes, not including the time spent drying out and taking a significant detour.
Wow! What a day! Beautiful photos of the Monterey/Big Sur coastline. What an awesome adventure.