Daily Distance: 202km
Total Distance: 2985km
I am a robot. A well tuned machine who is able to withstand various abuses that life hands to it. This is where my training pays off. I’ve never had the opportunity or the mindset to put myself through 201km in one day, fully loaded, through demanding hills, intersections, drivers, and other perils until now. I’m on fire, and very alert. Likely due to the 2 energy drinks, 1 can Dr. Pepper, and Triple Latte throughout the day.
This day had so many events attached to it, it’s hard to even put them in sequence. The wrong turns that shoved me into the massive girth of the city that I wanted to avoid all together really tested who I was, what I was doing and set off alarm bells in my head to stay focused. On the second wrong turn, having to climb an intense hill in the heat of the afternoon unprepared certainly through wrenches into things.
I spent an hour booking a flight home, and dealing with some internet things at a coffee shop, watching the sky erupt into dark colours, eventually blocking out the blue skies – when I decided it was time to go. 5 pm and I had less than 2 hours of usable light left, and I’m in a shady area of Los Angeles county and I want out. Of course, I’m being re-routed by police officers away from my destination, forcing me into the inner city further on roads where the bike route consisted of about 3 inches of shoulder and screaming traffic, high speed import cars with large wheels whizzing past and the rhythmic pounding of some hiphop beat. I’m in the city of Compton trying to go south with nothing but my GPS to guide me, as the sun is blocked out. Worse, I’m unable to breathe properly because of the smell – it seems something to do with oil is causing this mess. I’ve got a hankercheif to cover my mouth, but I don’t dare cover my face with it, knowing that it’s blue, and knowing it was once gang colours. I bite onto my tonque, soaking it with slobber and using it as a breathing apparatus while I’m heading south into Long Beach in the diminishing light. I have an encounter with a red Nissan Sports Car, that nearly throws me off the road with the potential of making me pate.
A lifted truck circles me a few times, honking, trying to get my attention – I ignore and move forward. My budget is tight, and the next destination is Orange County, home of the happiest place on earth – Disneyland, making the hotel prices higher. I know of no cheap campgrounds nearby so move forward. Bits of black burnt things fly through the air for 2 hours following the fire, and the wind moves the smoke with me as I fly. I’m a pro at blowing snot at high velocity out of my left nostril. I see on the right the massive stretch of beach known as Huntingdon, but of course no camping. It’s 6:45 and its getting quite dark. I’m thinking of ideas to go hide in the bushes and stealth camp, but shake my head – Sleep at 7pm? Unlikely.
Huntingdon lasts for miles, before heading into Newport Beach. Every one is an enemy, I’m cautious to talk to anyone who’s on the road, walking, or cycling on the sidewalk. I finally give in and nod to the girl giving waving to me and giving a thumbs up from the passenger side of a vehicle. Newport Beach is 20 miles from my destination. I last had food at 12:30pm, and munched on a bit of fruit, so dig out a Clif Bar, and figure it’s time to make my face bend from the scarring and eat an apple while riding. Excruciating pain, but I manage to get it down. I stop at the side of the road and fish out the remaining piece of cheese that I’ve been carrying for the past 3 and gobble it in a split second. I question openning the “sausage” that has also been roasting in the sun for the past 3 days. I move forward.
It’s dark, and I can’t see a damn thing. Passing the La Brea tarpits, I see massive oil extraction installations on the sides of the roads and the smell is horrific. My reflexes are quick like a cat and I know if I don’t look and see what’s coming, I could be off my bike, or into traffic. Potholes are my pitfalls and every moving vehicle is a flying bullet. It’s 66 fahrenheit and I’m still in my typical riding gear, it still being warm passing through Newport and the streets with the posh restaurants, Ferrari dealerships, and gated communities. As soon as I did my temperature check, it dropped a good 10 degrees at least as I headed into Crytsal Canyon, a state park.
It’s 8pm and I make it to Laguna Beach, my energy wearing down, trying to focus on staying on the road, making sure that I am seen – I start doing logic and arithmatic questions in my head to stay alert. Frustrated, as I thought Laguna was my final destination for the night, I have to keep moving, going into Dana Point. It’s 7 miles and I get my mind prepared, keep telling myself that I can make it, cursing when I see a hill and any narrow bridges, which are plenty.
All of the sudden, everything changes. I can no longer control myself properly – The pavement is grooved for repaving. Only one lane is still asphalt, and the cars are fighting to get onto it. I have to ride the 6 miles on this grooved payment making every joint and muscle in my body ache. Stopping at a Chevron, I ask about where the city is – attendant assuring me its 2 miles away, I find a Dr Pepper in my panniers and slam it, eating a Snickers in the process.
When I look away form the road I see an 8, super imposed into my eyes, closing them makes it worse, and my eyes are doing the squiggles, with all lights seeming more intense than they actually are. Caffeine starting to affect me a little bit too much I think, I follow the attendants advice to find a bar so I can sit, have a dinner and have a beer. I get there and its FAR TOO LOUD, and I move forward, finding a grocery store where I pick up Salad, cookies, pop tarts, and fruit. I become extremely lost trying to find Doheny State Beach, frustrated and eventually riding on the wrong side of the highway just to get in. I haven’t paid, and cant find out where I can pay, expecting them to wake me up early in the morning and flex their authority. I am thinking of taping $5 to my tent fly and hope it will keep them at bay. Campsite is beside a train line, with Amtrak and freight going by 3 times since I have sat down. My legs ache,and I am positive I will sleep well tonight, but wonder how I will perform tommorrow.
Putting myself through this was a test of endurance, skill and sanity – I’m still having fun, and I don’t regret it. Remember, this is my test run, putting myself into situations of bodily strength to understand how my body reacts. I’m at the end and wanted to do something like this – but didn’t expect it to be THIS intense. Sunlight comes soon – 10:55pm out.
