by Liz

Day’s mileage : 41

Running total : 1,871

How is it possible to stay in a small town like Lompoc with 2,500 other visiting cyclists and not see a single one? They left as we were getting up and they ride faster than we do – that’s the only half decent explanation. The AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles is taking place this week and for the past three days we’ve been asked repeatedly if we’re ‘doing that ride’. 

They also didn’t need to do their shopping before leaving town as everything is provided on their ride. We knew we wouldn’t pass another shop on our route today so we were in Albertsons at 9am buying our baked potatoes and strawberries. After that there was no catching them up, they were long gone.

Today had two new experiences in store for us – weaving our way through high hill country all morning, and staying on an avocado ranch most of the way up a mountain this evening. Our utterly charming hosts, Jim and Eileen, plied us with tea and questions. They’ve been so appreciative of us and our adventure that I’m not sure our helmets will fit tomorrow. They have even gifted us our night here in this magical location for free. How sweet is that?!

We had our usual lunch of cheese sandwiches sitting on a rock in a lay-by overlooking miles of overcast, calm ocean. Around us a team of about 30 cycle enthusiasts dismantled the day’s second LifeCycle rest stop. They were a super friendly bunch and we were pleased to take a team photo for them. One of the event sweeps, dressed in fairy wings and a tiara, had stopped for us earlier in the hills, to offer us snacks and water. He absolutely knew we weren’t part of the ride because there’s no way we match the event riders, with our loaded bikes, panniers and contemplative pace. He was just kind.

It transpires that Elon Musk is launching a rocket with a satellite from the nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5pm so we’re heading up to Jim and Eileen’s viewing deck to see what we can spot. Later – In fact no rocket launched that we could see but it was a beautiful view over the hillsides of avocados, orange and lemon trees and the ocean beyond, glinting in the evening sun. 

We have 63 miles to ride tomorrow to Oxnard where we’ll have our next rest day, on Sunday. I thought we’d have swum at least 15 or 20 times by now but interestingly we have yet to enter the ocean, which is dangerously cold in Washington and perilously rough in Oregon. So far it’s been quite cold and quite rough in California too but hopefully, as we head further south, the waves will look more inviting.