....why stop? To LA!

My first day on tour...Everything so clean...Little did I know what an adventure I set out on

I haven't updated this in a while, but thought I would let everyone know that after spending a week in San Francisco, I decided to continue riding to Los Angeles. How could I bike the Pacific Coast and not bike Big Sur? Nick, Sandy and I met just outside of SF and continued riding all together. My knee was hurting the first day back on the bike but luckily we only went as far as Half Moon Bay the first day out of San Francisco. 

The three of us were back together. The hobo train. Getting held up in the yurt together, I think it solidified a bond between us, one that will indeed last forever.

Walking about in LA, I ran into the English couples that we would run into every few days along our trip! They barely recognized me without my bike and helmet.  

There were times when people would shout mean things and nearly kill us with their beep machines. Other times, folks would cheer for us and give us thumbs up and they saw us pedal up hills. The whole experience, I dubbed my "Freedom Tour". Never have I ever felt a feeling of utmost freedom. I could go anywhere at anytime and answer to no one. Bicycle Touring is an adventure like no other. It's emotional. It's raw. It's a test on the body and brain. You start to appreciate things like a clean face and underwear, which I only had 3 pairs of. The food I ate became the best food I have ever eaten. I'd smell the earth, the actual earth with its plentiful fennel and lavender growing alongside the rode. The smell of the ocean alongside me everyday and its misty breeze would cool my sun soaked arms. I'd eat brussel sprouts that we found along side the highway and cook them over a campfire. The stars. Oh the Stars....Arriving at camp just as the sun set into an iridescent opal, there was enough light to pitch tents and gather wood, and then millions of stars would sparkle over head, only to put a cherry on top of the day. The friends I've made are friends for life. Nick and I are already planning our next tour. 

Climbing

 Everyday was special in its own unique ways and I felt like everyday was one of the best days of my life. A straight 2 months of bliss. 

Here's a link to all the places I camped including daily and total mileage of the trip

total mileage              1553.78 miles

daily average              50miles

most mileage in a day: 77miles on the 3rd day   (could of topped it towards the end, but the sun set                                                                      significantly earlier due to the way the world turns) 

daily diet:::   breakfast: 1 banana, oats, 1/3 of a jar of peanutbutter (sometimes raisins and coconut)

                  snacks: along the way: trail mix, bananas, carrots and hummus, banana chips, clif bars

                  dinner:  beans, tortillas, sometimes salsa, kale or sweet potatoes

                  dessert: dark chocolate 

Smoothies were had when available as well. 

I hope everyone enjoyed reading my blog! If you have any questions or comments or want to talk about bike touring please contact me here or via email @ jaclyncafarelli@gmail.com
and enjoy a few more photos...

Also, got to take a private plane ride in LA. Whattup! Experienced zero gravity!

Standing on the edge of a cliff. 

Truly a trip of a lifetime