Touring - Lots of Tourers Out Yesterday

I live right on the Pacific Coast Bikeway, by Morro Bay, California. I went on a ride yesterday up Highway 1 to north of Cayucos. I saw at least 4 groups of loaded tourers heading south. It seems a bit late in the year for me, but then anytime is a good time to get out and tour, right?

If anyone ever has any questions about this part of the route, I'm local and a tourer.

Two guys were stopped on South Bay Boulevard, checking their map. I asked if they wanted any help. They said no. I was wondering if they were wondering about the Turri Road section, whether they were looking for something (breakfast, bike shop?) etc. I guess I'll never know.

I saw at least 4 groups of loaded tourers heading south. It seems a bit late in the year for me...

Annual migration? :lol:

Sounds like fun. The weather is CA is fairly mild, so why not tour?

It has been pretty nice, until this morning when it started raining. It's supposed to rain for a couple more days at least.

One reason I like to tour in the summer is the long days. It's getting dark early, and light late this time of year. After daylight savings time is over it will really be bad.

Of course, the other reason I tour in the summer is that I'm a teacher. But when I retire, I'll still probably be a May-September type of tourer.

bigbluetoe now didn't those two tourers make a blunder not taking advice from you.
i can't understand people that dismiss locals advice especially when you were on your tourer.
ah well there lose if there sheltering from the rain bet there saying we should have listened to that guy.

Seriously, I rode a short bit through Malibu on the PCH, and it was the most spectacular scene I could imagine, even in December. I certainly didn't get any local help, even so much as a hello. I would have been all over the chance to chat with some local folk. Maybe it's just where I was, between Topanga and Malibu.

We did a short tour down the coast to Morro Bay earlier this month and also saw quite a few other touring cyclists. Yes, the weather can get worse this time of year, but motorized traffic is greatly reduced making the trip more enjoyable. We did get caught by the earlier sunset one night and rode the stretch from Bixby bridge into Big Sur in darkness. But I always carry at least adequate lighting when on a tour so it wasn't a problem (just missed some of the spectacular scenery on that section).

Makes sense. It's gorgeous in NC, 70's in the day and high 40's at night and mostly sunny. Can't be any better. Y'all come down, ya' hear!

SoCal is fine in winter! :)

I spent two months (mid jan-mid march) this year touring in the desert areas of Southern California. I rambled mostly around Joshua Tree, Anzo-Borrego and Death Valley as well as parts of the coast (San Clemente - Kirk Creek) ending up riding about 2200 miles (LA to LA).

On the coast I met a few other tourers but none in the deserts!
BigBlueToe - wish I'd bumped into you at Morro Bay!

A great winter trip - be prepared for cold nights (down to freezing) and nice hot days :D

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Here are some more photos: http://whoopswrongplanet.com/road_10/index.htm

Seriously, I rode a short bit through Malibu on the PCH, and it was the most spectacular scene I could imagine, even in December. I certainly didn't get any local help, even so much as a hello. I would have been all over the chance to chat with some local folk. Maybe it's just where I was, between Topanga and Malibu.

Certainly was the location. Majority of people there are not locals anymore... driving in, etc...

super pic's ,just curious what make of guitar is that and do you ever get into any bother if your playing at campsites.
just that some people like quiet.

super pic's ,just curious what make of guitar is that and do you ever get into any bother if your playing at campsites.
just that some people like quiet.

Hi Antokelly! It's a standard nylon string classical guitar (Raimundo Model 104, from Valencia, Spain)... plus hard case (total weight about 11 lbs). A travelling guitar worth about $200.

I am very conscious about not disturbing people with my playing, and usually take a walk far enough away from campsites to play - to a beach or the top of a hill - or just off into the desert.
My music is very soft and gentle anyhow, and the times I have played at campsites hardly anyone would hear anyway... On occasions I have asked neighbours if it would disturb them if I played for an hour or so - the reaction has invariably been "hey, no problem whatsoever..." :)

Two guys were stopped on South Bay Boulevard, checking their map. I asked if they wanted any help. They said no.

Its a guy thing. Nothing less manly than getting help when lost.

Its a guy thing. Nothing less manly than getting help when lost.

:lol: That explains why the GPS manufacturers are making a mint. All of their buyers are men who hate to ask! (I am a man btw, though I don't hate to ask).

It has been pretty nice, until this morning when it started raining. It's supposed to rain for a couple more days at least.

One reason I like to tour in the summer is the long days. It's getting dark early, and light late this time of year. After daylight savings time is over it will really be bad.

Of course, the other reason I tour in the summer is that I'm a teacher. But when I retire, I'll still probably be a May-September type of tourer.

Well I just about started a thread about doing SF to San Diego in late December. The short days are giving second thoughts to the idea. I really need a tour, something short and sweet and I love the coast so much.

I've opted to wait until the last week before Christmas to decide. If the weather looks good enough -I'm gone!

The way I cope with short winter days is to not dawdle about camp before leaving in the morning - and not take a long (hour or longer) break in the middle of the day...

The long nights meant I slept often for 10 or 11 hours! felt great :D

bigbluetoe now didn't those two tourers make a blunder not taking advice from you.
i can't understand people that dismiss locals advice especially when you were on your tourer.
ah well there lose if there sheltering from the rain bet there saying we should have listened to that guy.

I don't really look at it as a blunder - more of a minor lost opportunity. I know when I tour, especially alone, I sometimes put myself in sort of an "anonymity bubble". Besides when I offered help they probably thought I was offering mechanical help - for a flat perhaps.

I like to ask locals for advice, but I've been misled. Once a guy saw my rig outside a cafe where I was eating breakfast. He came over to my table, sat down, started talking about "back in the day" when he used to tour, and gave me a bunch of "local knowledge." It turned out to be mostly bogus. I think of him now as "the big blowhard." It's happened like that a couple of times. But mostly locals have given me invaluable local knowledge.