Day 11 - Crossing the Finish Line!!

DAY 11 of the Asmi Cali Coastal Tour

Santa Barbara to Leo Carillo State Beach in Malibu (60 miles)
475 miles in total!

Today was a beautiful ride out of Santa Barbara.  We followed a bike path out of town then on to a bike lane that wound through Montecito, Summerland & Carpenteria.  Very picturesque & charming communities.  I was surprised to find that the bike lane goes almost all the way to Ventura, much of it right along the water.  

There was just one 5 mile stretch along the freeway but, even there, there was a wide bike lane/shoulder.  A few miles north of Ventura, you're back on a bike path that takes you right into town.  We headed to the train station to meet Doug & Amir  who joined us for the rest of the day.

We rode down past Ventura Harbor where many homes have docks right at their back door, then on to Oxnard.  As we neared Oxnard Shores, surprise! surprise!  it started to drizzle.  We decided to stop for lunch at Mrs. Olson's Coffee Hut which is a great old-style diner that serves huge portions.

Mike & I discovered it 30 years ago when we kept our sailboat at the Channel Islands marina.  While waiting for a table, the honorary mayor of Hollywood Beach interviewed us for a story on Mrs. Olsons & took our photo.

During lunch, it started pouring (those of you who are not from California probably can't understand why this is such a big deal but it almost NEVER rains this time of year!) and back on the road, we were met with sunny skies & huge puddles. 

At one point, Amir fell over & re-injured the knee he had scraped 2 weeks ago.  He literally just stopped his bike, was unable to get out of his rat traps,  & fell over.  Mike & I had managed to cycle hundreds of miles without a scratch & Amir becomes the first casualty of the ride!

We continued on past the naval station at Port Hueneme

& Pt. Mugu which was socked in with fog.  

It was like that all the way to Leo Carrillo - perfect riding weather.  At one point, I looked towards the water & saw a school of dolphins heading down the coast.  It was almost as if they were accompanying us on our last few miles.   We rolled into Leo Carrillo about 3 pm

& kissed our St. Christopher medals for bringing us home safely.  WE DID IT!!

A number of our friends joined us for a barbeque & celebration.