Thirty-eight years ago as we began our married life, we cycled out of Strafford, Vermont and began a year-long bicycling adventure traveling around the world. (The photo is from Nepal.) Then came another wonderful adventure -- children and careers. With children on their own and our careers behind us, we entered the next chapter, again with a bicycle adventure. That one was more modest, train trips across the country and five weeks on bikes from Los Angeles, CA to Portland, OR; but it greeted us with we good riding, great sights, and interesting people.

After two bicycle trips on the west coast, we tried something different. With an old dog along for the ride and a camper in the bed of the pickup, we set off for the desert southwest exploring national parks, enjoying daily cycling, and even playing a little golf.

In Spring, 2017, we decided on an international adventure. We landed in Lisbon, Portugal and rode a loop through Portugal and Spain and back to Lisbon. Once again, seeing the sights, meeting people, and pedaling 1600 miles were wonderful!

In March 2018 we left Maine after a big snow storm and headed to North Carolina for some warmth - we didn't find it. We went further south to SC - still didn't find it! But we did discover new places to cycle and explore!

It is now August 2023, kids are married with families of their own (five wonderful grandchildren) and we are off on another adventure! Our first stop will be Lily Bay State Park on August 13, then head north and west, across Canada and into Alaska driving and camping with bikes and a canoe. Here is the family, though missing Miles' wife, Baily.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

An amazing place . . .

Spent a wonderful morning on 17 Mile Drive in Carmel riding through Pebble Beach  Golf Links and Spyglass Golf Club.  I was able to gaze at the course, but at nearly $500 a round, I passed on playing.


After Carmel we entered the Big Sur section of the coast which is dramatically beautiful and full of steep and long hills.  It took us two days to cover the 80 odd miles.



  Both of us were a little sad to leave that part of the trip behind us so quickly.  We camped in a wonderful site and watched the sun set over the Pacific. 



 A German couple came by in the evening and brought us two beers -- nice.  A campsite neighbor, Eric, a lobsterman from Cape Cod, stopped by for a visit.  He is spending a couple of weeks cycling into the hills east of the coast -- nice guy.

Leaving Big Sur was made less sad by the anticipation of the elephant seals at San Simeon.  This is an amazing sight.  18,000 elephant seals come to this short stretch of beach to have their young and then breed.  

And you think your kids and grand kids are cute . . .



This bull arrived on the beach in November weighing in at 5000 pounds. 



 He has been fighting other bulls for mating rights (and mating!) ever since.  He now weighs 2500 pounds.  He is about to head north and won't eat until he reaches his feeding grounds off Alaska!  He can only hope he has calculated his reserves correctly. Elephant seals are air breathing mammals that can dive more than a mile deep, and stay under for more than an hour.  I wish I could come here every spring to witness this.

Fortunately, I have recovered completely from my days of dehydration.  Unfortunately, Anne is feeling terrible with a bad cough and persistent chest pain.  She still pedaled 44 miles over a couple of wicked hills, but arrived here in Cambria exhausted.  And, NO, I did not insist that she keep going.  Rather, I insisted that we stay in a cheap motel, The Bluebird Inn, for a night -- big spender! 


 Hopefully, she will recover soon.  She is quite the trooper.

No wonder Anne is exhausted, I think we have gone far astray!!??


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1 comment:

  1. Susan AllenMarch 30, 2014 at 4:40 PM

    Great to see your photos guys - And especially glad to see that Dana's softening a bit with the motels and all.... :-) Safe travels and we'll be thinking of you both on opening day tomorrow!

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