gugie 

In at the Inn!

mgopack42 

I am new to this site, found it after I bought my Ciocc. I really like the personalities of the BF C&V denizens. I think we "get" each other. Also, EC has been on my radar since i first heard about it when a friend with a sweet Eddy Merckx told me about it this spring. All that being said, even though I am loathe to plan SOOO far in advance, can I reserve a bed? I think the SO would not want to come along, so all I would need is a soft spot for my head and aching muscles.

gugie 

Ah, another koolaid drinker! I know it's far in advance, but after last year's Eroica, I knew I was coming back. Many of us were pretty sure that the start was moving to Cambria, and I knew that the real experience was meeting up and spending time with other BF C&Ver's, so I went for it.

I'll send you a PM, consider yourself reserved.

gugie 

Time to ping this back to life.

il Palazzo degli Eroi is filling up rapidly. I may or may not have any slots available, and have sent out emails to those who gave me a verbal/email si for a deposit.

Another issue - if you're going, how are you getting there? SLO airport isn't exactly a hub. Flying into San Jose or LAX and driving up would make more sense. We have a lot of members in both areas, perhaps some car-pooling could happen. My plan is to fly into San Jose and rent a car/SUV/Van, depending on how many people want to car pool down. If you're in the PNW and can get your bike to Portland, I think there are a few people driving down that have said they might be able to take an extra bike or two. Another option is shipping your bike directly to Cambria.

mgopack42 

I live in the central valley and have an SUV, if anyone needs to get together for a lift down (I am 1.5 hours form SJ).

Gugie, I will PP you the $75 ASAP. (If there is any way to reserve a Queen bed so my wife can enjoy some coast time... that would be awesome.::: that is just me thinking, but no discussions with the SO have occured.) this is not a basis of going or not going... just thinking out of the box since she may or may not be available that weekend.

Spaghetti Legs 

rccardr 

Lemond1985

Hwy 1 today, 1-8-2019, between Cayucos and Morro Bay. Was there on business and snapped this shot with my phone.

I do believe I could hang out here for a while.

Erzulis Boat 

Yep! I did a recon from the dog park (I think that is where we start?) to Morro last weekend. Stopped at Moonstone beach, found what we thought was jade, only to have our dreams crushed with subsequent research. Haha!

Lemond1985

There's another spot near Moonstone Beach where you can observe huge bull sea lions wintering a little later in the year, guarding their little harems of lady sea lions. The fishy fecal smell of the animals is not very impressive, but the size of some of the larger males sure is.

Someone else posted a Voler jersey they plan to wear on the ride. The Voler HQ is about 20 miles down the road in Grover Beach. They make some really awesome shorts and jerseys, lots of pro riders wear their stuff. I believe the clothing is made right there in Grover Beach, but I'm not positive.

I want to go back again with my bike and explore the roads through the hills a bit, hopefully during the middle of the week when traffic is lighter. I probably won't do the organized ride though. Truth be told, I have more fun riding on my own or with a few friends than in huge organized groups, I suspect the main reason people attend those is for lots of very good reasons other than the actual riding itself.

Classtime 

Traffic is very light during EroicaCA. Many miles of both my EroicaCA rides were solo and anyone that I could keep up with for a few miles was very friendly.

gugie 

You nailed it for me. The ride is fantastic, but as you note, you can do it yourself anytime. The food at the rest stops is far beyond what you'd get at a mega-century, but one can pack a lunch in a handlebar bag, or stop at any of many great little cafes for cheaper than what this ride costs. But the draw of seeing many old friends, and meeting new ones is really what I come for.

Kabuki12

I have ridden Morro Bay, Cambria , Cayucos , even up as far as San Simeon. I can hardly wait , I think this is a perfect area for the ride.

Lemond1985

I agree. How anyone can visit that area, see the majesty and natural beauty, and tell me it all happened by accident, and that there's no [censored] is beyond me. One of my goals is to some day do the complete ride from Monterey and the Bixby Bridge, south to Cambria. I think it's around 120 miles.

The Tour of CA has done that route several times and the scenery is simply to die for.

joesch

You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'

Lemond1985

LOL, don't I know it. A few years back, I thought I could "just move to Texas". Long story short, when I crossed the AZ / CA border on I-40 back into the Golden State, I was literally kissing the ground, as I filled my tank with $4.50 a gallon gasoline in the most debt-ridden, overcrowded, over-taxed, over-regulated, poorly-governed, corrupt, banana republic state in the union. I never thought I would miss this place, but I most certainly did. Though admittedly, it was the scenery I missed the most.

Erzulis Boat 

So true, I lived in Alaska for a while, I tried, I really did. Haha.

gugie 

18 years old, growing up in the Central Valley of California, about as boring a place to ride a bicycle on the planet - we lived a good 20 miles from the foothills. 2 weeks before starting college, my mom got up at o'dark hundred to drive me to San Luis Obispo, my Raleigh Super Course MkII loaded up for a ride to San Diego. Passing through the area north and south of Cambria, I thought I was in heaven. Here's a pic the day before I Ieft.



Nowadays, I dream of retiring there.

joesch

In total agreement and I have similar history.
Been working in Dallas for almost a decade but still have family and friend in SoCal and don't get back enough.
Eroica is a great reason for another return to HotelCA and fortunately for me, I still have a place in SoCal with several nice bikes including my Colnago Super

joesch

Same for me, that's my dream and plan. Nice old pic, you were setup well in those days

Lemond1985

I think being retired opens up lots of options. Someone who commutes to work every day is not gonna be willing to live on some windy narrow road that's 20 miles from the nearest highway. But a retired person has no such worries, except maybe a grocery run once a week. So the retired person can find a good deal on a small piece of land deep in the hills, and move a tiny house on it or whatever. Cambria and Morro Bay are extremely expensive, but there's always places around Paso Robles or Atascadero, or maybe some isolated piece of land 20 miles from Big Sur that nobody else wants to buy. That's one reason I'm looking forward to retirement.

gugie 

+1

Time it right and we can go in together and rent or buy this place:

Erzulis Boat 

I rode by that the other day and saw stuff in it. Hmmmm.

gugie 

Sure, somebody may have to move out.

I know a guy who does such things.

jcb3