Mountain top and the downhill

Last night I found a b&b in Ponderosa, some 7200 feet high. It was cold, close to freezing point. Dee and Curtis run a beautiful place. Their hospitality was way beyond the average b&b. They went out of their way to make me feel at home.

The next morning, I cycled downhill, and some up too on a set of marvelous and practically abandoned roads.

Roads End

It is so much cooler up in the mountains. I am still cycling along the Kern river, up stream, and people keep telling me that this year the flow is stronger than it has been for years.

Cycling towards Roads End, I got to a motel in which I hoped to find a room. I ran into Katrina and Mark. We made some small talk and Mark suggested we have dinner together. However, the motel was overpriced and had no charm to it, so I cycled on into the very small town, Roads End.

Roads End has a nice bar & grill, McNally’s, with a small store and a small motel and a burger stand attached to it. I was lucky to get a room for the night, as the upcoming weekend is memorial day weekend and all motels are booked. David signed me in and made me feel welcome. This was the first good sign for the events to follow.

I walked back into the restaurant and Katrina recognized me. Turns out that Mark has been here a few times, wanted to stay for the weekend, but it was already booked, but since the food was so good this was what they had in mind for the evening.

We ended up sitting at the bar discussing religion, education, goals and fulfilling them, our children, divorce, partners and food. Such a nice couple. We had a very pleasant time together. Mark, to my embarrassment, insisted on paying for my meal.

Being in a small town, I guess, and in such a friendly bar some of the staff started to talk with us. Shy was the first. Being behind the counter, she served the couple and me and heard about me and my trip. After my two beers with the meal, she handed me a glass of vodka and red bull. My first ever. Not bad. She was brought up in these mountains and was the only child in her grade at school. She too is a proud mother (her son just graduated from college). Terry, the owner, has a son in a jet plane flying over Syria. I hope he makes it home safely.

Then there was Greg. A young father, happily married with three children. We talked about the value of on-hand education, seeing things that the children learn about at school and such like. Then he said: “can I sing you a song”? Takes the guitar, “cause they haven't fixed the piano”, and sings, with all his heart, three beautiful songs. By this time it was only the staff and me (as far as I can tell, Katrina and mark left earlier), we were all captivated. It was a nice way to sum up the evening.

Went to my room, stepped out again just to allow my brain to slow down a bit, ran into Greg again, summed-up our conversation and that was the end of a wonderful, most surprising, evening.

I have discovered America!

Few kilometers, lots of fun!

Started riding afternoon. The morning was too hot in Bakersfield. I saw that clouds were heading in, so I waited for them to block the sun from time to time.

At the gas station, this guy told me that I can wet myself in the river (kern) but I should not go in. Here's why:

Then, while riding uphill, I met Alex, Jackson and Tyler. These three young men, two applied physics graduates and one musician, rockclimbing (I am still on the, now steep, banks of the river Kern). After they were done they invited me to join them for a, very welcome, cold beer and watermelon.

Hot. Very hot.

I had to stop for a few hours yesterday, but continued to ride in the cooler evening and night until about 10:00 p.m.

I wiĺl probably do the same today.
Pictures from yesterday along the river Kern leading into Bakersfield

Warnings

In the U.S., it seems  that people post "You've been warned" type of signs. Such as "no trespassing" well knowing that trespassers don't pay attention, only law abiding people care. But, once caught, the owner of the property can prosecute.

This one was a bit too much...:

Mike

I ran into Mike three times. The first time was yesterday as I was heading north on the Pacific Coast Highway (nr 1). The bike trail took a strange turn and I asked him if he knew if that's the correct direction.
The second time was as I was leaving Ventura (Main street is a must!). He asked me where I was cycling to. I had not enough time to answer as he was turning left onto highway 33. A few hundred yards later, I had to backtrack.....
So, as I am making my way on hwy 33, at Mira Monte, he is heading back towards Ventura.
This time we spoke.
Turns out that he has been living on a bicycle for the past four years covering some 25,000 miles! His previous bicycle was stolen, so now he cycles on an electic aided bicycle with his dog and it looked like a household.
He gave me great tips on my planned route. I hope I get to use them.
I wished him well, as he did me, and we went our seperate ways. Will we meet again?

Watch out!

זהירות!!!

The beach חוף הים

Waking up to the sound of the waves
להתעורר לקול אוושת הגלים.

גלגלים בתוך האוהל. אופניים חצי בפנים

Santa Monica

You can read about Santa Monica on the web.
The only thing I have to say is that they have valet parking for bicycles!

ניתן לקרוא על סנטה מוניקה באינטרנט.
מה שיש לי להגיד זה שיש שירותי החניה לאופניים!

Homeless

Not me, the homeless of Los Angeles.
Cycling from downtown LA to long beach, google maps sent me via the LA river bike trail. It was pretty in some parts, but wherever possible, onder the bridges that cross the river and on the banks in tents, live a large number of homeless people.

Capitalism is not a nice system. Sad.

Warmshowers big time.

When signing up for warm showers, Ken Francis, a board member, approved  my accout and invited me to stay with him if I come to the LA area. Www.warmshowers.com is for cyclists offering other cyclists a shower, perhaps a bed or the lawn for camping, some offer the use of the kittchen or laundry services.

This is where I am staying tonight. Long beach at Kens. There were other guests so we had a lovely dinner together.

Tomorrow, before I leave, a photo of me and my bicycle will be taken and placed in their photo album. I will be guest nr. 186, I think, bur the first Israeli and the first with a bamboo bike.

Nice bicycle shop

It has been raining for a while, so it was a good opertunity for servicing the bike.
I stopped at the #Incycles shop at Rancho Cucamonga. Andrew did a great job of alligning the derailleur hanger and then he refused to charge me.
Great service!

Route 66

On my way to LA and Santa Monica
I also saw that I was happy not to be on the mountains. Then it started to rain here...
בדרך ללוס אנג'לס וסנטה מוניקה.  ראיתי את העננים על ההרים וחשבתי שמזל שירדתי משם. ואז הגשם החל כאן...

Local's advice

Was riding from Yucaipa up the hill on hwy 38. On the way, I got to Mountain Home and asked for water at the first home. Carol and Gary were so hospitable, i ended up spending a couple of hours with them. Charming couple.
At first, Carol showed me arround the home which used to be the Igo restaurant in the early 20th century (http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/lifestyle/20090725/igo-establishes-a-store-and-a-community)
An interesting twist was that both suggested I use the old highway up the hill to Angelus Oaks. It  was a tough climb but well worth it! Part dirt road part single track alongside a peaceful stream.
By far the most enjoyable section of my ride so far.
Listen to the locals!

Down hill

Most of the way down from 6100 feet to 2350 in Baning Ca. Lots of ups and more so, downs.
ירדתי מ 1850 מטר ל 720 מטר בערך בשלש שעות (ירידות ועליות כל הדרך).

Warmshowers

Riding into Idylwild, I stopped to ask about food and a place to sleep. Bill came over and told me he is a warmshowers host. I am now, after a shower and a great talk with Theresa and Bill, am going to bed (a real bed!).

Up and down

Finished the first major set of uphill. I have passed the 6000 feet mark. Tomorrow I will embark on a downhill run of almost the entire 6000 feet just to start over further north.

עברתי את סף ה 6000 רגל היום. מתקדם לאט יחסית אבל עולה למרומים...זה למעלה מ 1,800 מטר גובה. טיפוסים אין סופיים. ק"מ רצופים של עליה.

מחר מתחיל לרדת ושוב אגיע לקצת מעל גובה פני הים (זה לא יגמר ביום אחד....).

אחרי זה שוב טיפוסים.

בדרך ל 6000 on the way to

Laundry day

Started riding out of Amza and saw a laundromate. After having one set of cloths soaking wet and the other sweaty, it is great to have clean garments.

Just make sure not to leave your kids unattended

Funny America

Yesterday enroute

Woke up with a friend outside

Ratio

35 km in 3 hours mainly down hill. 15 km 4 hours.  ONLY up hill. I am dead.
Half way up, I stopped at a realtor's home / busines where Laura and Lelaa offered me water.
Ended up in Anza which has no camp grounds, motels or hostels. The first place I hit at the edge of Anza is a store plus grill. Thomas, the owner, offered me to use the patio after they close at 8:00 p.m.

35 קמ בשלש שעות, בעיקר ירידות ו 15 קמ של עליה קשה שלא נגמרת בארבע שעות. באמצע העליה עצרתי למלא מים. נורא נחמדים האמריקאים האלה. מתים לעזור.
הגעתי לאנזה. בכניסה יש חנות נוחות וגריל. תומס הציע לי לישון בחצר לאחר שיסגרו בשמונה.

Continuing north

Looks sunny today. Heading to the mountains.
Had some great coversations with hikers. Good information.
THANKS BOB

Intresting day

After spending most of yesterday in a restaurant and then 14 hours in a tent, waiting for the rain to stop, today was much better.
The sun was out all day, and I continued my uphill ride. When I got to 4600 feet,  snow was visible on the ground. It snowed in the higher mountains.

Got to a campground, in Warner Springs, which is set up for hikers. An experienced hiker told me that it is possible that I might not be able to cross some areas due to snow. If this happens, I will revert to the Coastal Road option (which has some issues too since last winter). I will not try to overcome nature. This is but a touring cycle tha can be changed as I go along.
לאחר שאתמול ביליתי את רוב היום במסעדה ואחר כך 14 שעות באוהל בכדי להימלט מסופת הגשם, היום היה ממש טוב. שמש נעימה כך שיכולתי להמשיך את הטיפוס במעלה ההרים. כשהגעתי לגובה של כ 1400 מטר ראיתי שלג על הקרקע. על ראשי הרים אני לא מדבר..
בסוף היום, ישבתי עם טייל מנוסה, בוב שמו, שהסתכל על המסלול שלי ואמרנשיתכן ויהיה חסום עקב שלגים. אם זה יקרה, אעבור, על פי התכנון המקורי, לכביש החוף של קליפורניה.

So yesterdy....

Was too wet. Rain was pooring down.
I had dinner at this lovely saloon. People were all trying to figure out were I could stay. The forest fighters suggested a location. So I put up my tent. Not a drop made it in. The sleeping bag was warm and I had a restfull afternoon and night.

Got up, had breakfast and continued up hill...

Food for one person.....

The mirror in the saloon

Rain, rain, go away..

So the rain has been getting stonger. I had to stop for a while to get food and get warm. I've been cycling up hill in wet conditions (socks are wet), so i am waiting.
הגשם התגבר. עצרתי  להתחמם ולאכול משהו.
יום וחצי בגשם, עם גרביים רטובים. ממתין להפוגה.

רגל feet 

3000 

Only in America

The mirror in the saloon

מראה של קאובויס

גשם

אחרי יום של גשם, היום ומחר צפויים גשמים חזקים יותר. מראה מה ילד יום.

After yesterday's rain, today and tomorrow the forecast is for stronger downfalls. Hope all works well for me.

The gods did not welcome me today...

But people did!
The first were the two sales people in Adventure 16.
i got from them important inmformation which led to a purchase of a tent, a rain coat, a down coat a sleeping bag and thermal cycling pants. Left the store and it began to rain on me for the following 8 hours or so. Towards the evening the temerature dropped to close to freezing point.

Steve stopped me at a light. We had a great talk about bikepacking as he is crazy too :)

Then, Jim pointed me towards Alpine, ca. About a mile a way from Alpine, I found Casino Inn, a nice bar with great tacos. Spoke with wes the micro biologist, the guy who is a tile setter an a lovely couple Karen and Jack.

From there I rode to the nearby motel where I discovered that I have lost my passports. Rushed back. Everyone tried to help. No luck. Got back to the motel. When i put on the rain coat,I thougt I'd put the passports in my coat but there was no room so I put the passports in the bag with the coats instead of in their original place.

The professionals at A16

Stormy weather

It has begun

Made it to San Diego.