All in all a great day!
I reached the point where I was supposed to join Interstate 8 when I saw a big sign indicating that there was no bicycle access. But there was an alternate route that would take me across the mountain, where I could join the original route on the other side, or so I thought.
It didn't take long before the surfaced road turned into a gravel road which made the ascent somewhat challenging. About halfway up the mountain, a vehicle on its way down drew up next to me, and the driver asked whether I was aware that I had a flat front tire. I was not! He brought his small compressor over and inflated the tire for me. Unfortunately, that only worked for a few seconds, so I opted for Plan B - to find a place where I could get off the road and change the flat - no big deal for me. The man left, heading for the beach, and I set to work. But a few minutes later he was back. He unloaded his beach umbrella and stood there holding it to provide much-needed shade while I completed my task. The kindness of strangers!!
While chatting, he suggested that I not try going across the mountain because there had been a few instances over the past months where mountain lions had attacked cyclists. That was reason enough for me to head back down the mountain in search of another alternate route.
On the way down I realized my water was running low, so I pulled into the local firehouse to ask for water. A young fireman came out and greeted me with a big smile. He indicated that they seldom get visitors at the firehouse, and asked whether there was anything he could help me with, and then added: "By the way, are you South African?" I told him how impressed I was - not many people can identify my accent. He laughed and went off to get cold water for me, and while I was filling my flasks he mentioned that he had gone to school with a South African, hence the reason he could quickly identify the accent.
He suggested that I turn right at the upcoming T junction so I could get to a big service station a short distance down the road. HELLO Slushy!!! The first of the trip. Yay!
I still faced the problem of not having access to the interstate and there were no other options. So I begrudgingly called a local tow truck company and asked whether it was possible to transport me and my trike on the interstate and drop me off two exits further along. As luck would have it, the ban had been lifted, so I could continue on my merry way.
View From The Top Of The Mountain, And The Valley Below
Slushy Time...
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