Just Keep Climbing...

Day 33: Big Sur to Cambria

Today's Distance: 68 miles

Total Distance: 1,598 miles

Last night I went all out to stay warm: doubled up on socks, stuffed some clothes near the foot-end of my sleeping bag, cold weather biking gloves on, beanie, a neck warmer thingy, and an eye mask (Thanks Bosh!).  The goal was to cover every inch of skin with something, and I succeeded.  I stayed somewhat warm overnight and woke up to dry clothes which is a rarity.  I feel closer than ever to SoCal!  Up by 8a and out of camp by 9:30.  I could've been on the road sooner, but I stuck around and had breakfast with Max, Autumn, and Kate.  The girls just got done working as Kayak instructors in Alaska and are headed South.  They tempted me to stick around and just relax for the day with them, but I'm more interested in avoiding the rain that's supposedly coming.

Once on the road, there's immediately a huge climb that kind of sets the tone for the day.  I knew I might as well get used to it, today is going to be a tough one.  I zoned out and was in my head for a lot of the day, but in a good way that pushed me.  It was just climb after climb after climb and I only stopped to take a picture here and there.  After Kirk Creek a couple of condors circled me for a while hoping that i'd drop dead.  In the ocean I couldn't tell if I was seeing, otters, seals, or just kelp.  I'd like to think it's just a bunch of otters, but it's more than likely the latter.

I stopped for lunch at a park and watched hang gliders and paragliders enjoying their day.  I was pretty exhausted at this point.  Today is definitely the most physically demanding of the entire trip.  Just south of the town of Gorda there's a downhill to about sea level followed by the biggest climb of the day.  There are like 4 false summits throughout, so that was pretty disheartening.  After I hit the top of the climb, I tried to enjoy the downhill as much as I could but that was difficult knowing that I immediately hit another climb that's going to take me back up to nearly the same elevation as the last summit...but steeper.  So tired.  During this section, some dude in his car shook his head at me as he drove by, because I assume he thinks i'm crazy.  I don't blame him.

When I finally crossed into San Luis Obispo County I knew the most difficult parts were behind me.  I wish I could have enjoyed the descent more, but road work and traffic kinda ruined that.  The landscape changed to grassy, rolling hills.  About 10 miles in I stop to take a picture of a lighthouse and then a car pulls up next to me, "What's up guy?!"  I knew the voice but I couldn't actually believe it.  I was surprised by my buddy James and his puppy Charlotte, who drove all the way up from San Diego!  He texted me a couple days ago and asked me where I would be ending up today, but I didn't really take it seriously.  I really do have some of the coolest friends.

Instead of camping like I planned, James hooked it up with an oceanview room in Cambria.  Seriously the best news ever.  I still had about 10 miles to go though haha!  I got the address of the Inn and finished off the last portion of the day.  Passed by a bunch of elephant seals and Hearst Castle on the way.  Finished the night off with tai-tip sandwiches and beers at a place down the street.  Such a great ending to a tough day!