Day 37 – Lompoc to Santa Barbara
Today we biked from Lompoc to Santa Barbara. The day started out super chilly and gloomy but ended up being extremely extremely hot. The first part of the day was rather uneventful besides Kelly’s face swelling for no reason and Vera finding a giant Mexican flag in the ditch which she carried along the way. Our lunch stop was at a beautiful beach about 20 miles from Santa Barbara. This was convenient because as the trip has progressed our lunch breaks have become significantly more leisurely. After our meal of gourmet wraps and watermelon we swam in the ocean, built sandcastles and slept on the beach. While the majority enjoyed an afternoon rest, Laura and Nicole got lost and took a slight detour up and over a 2000 ft. mountain.
After a few hours we were on the road again and biked the remainder on the day with flames in the distance. This is the closest we have been to the forest fires. Biking through a community which had been partially evacuated made it all the more real. Once we got to Santa Barbara we experienced some culture shock as we a) smell like dirty football players b) look like dirty football players who have been in the sun too long and c) have become incapable of holding meaningful conversations with anyone outside of our group ie. Laird. However, this did not stop us from exploring the town. By exploring on my end, I mean eating cheesecake with Karen while many others enjoyed ice cream and Frisbee in the park. After our ‘snack’ (which would be more of a meal compared to others…) Sonia made an amazing Indian dinner. We ended our day with a stroll around town enjoying the cooler night. As the end is in sight, it seems that the reality of saying good-bye is sinking in, making us even more clingy than usual.
Kayley and Kelly – 2008 riders
Way to go team. Thanks for taking the time to send your blogs. It has been so interesting to read them and follow you on your ride. It sounds like you have been having lots of adventures. Sorry to hear about all of the forest fires. Lots of memories have come back to us as you are in the part of the journey where we joined Mark and the group last year. Give Karin a hug for us as it sounds like once again she is providing amazing support to your group. We are looking forward to Natalie’s visit to Ontario to hear lots more about the trip.
Enjoy your last few days together. You are almost there. You have raised an incredible amount of money which will make a big difference in so many lives.Janet and Gary
Shawn,
I’d just like to thank you so much for all your blog postings. It’s given me much comfort and pleasure to read about the group’s journey. You all are doing a great job on this trip!
I just wanted to tell Phil, Sonia, and Emily it was a pleasure riding with them thru part of western Ventura County, and helping keep you guys on the right bike paths [instead of the forbidden 101 freeway!!]It was fun getting you to an In-N-Out burger to replentish your energy…I hope the rest of your trip goes well and I am thinking of you….please write when you can….your biking friend from Ojai CA… steve
The ride into Santa Barbara is lovely. As the days wind down what you need to know is that both the ride itself and the purpose of the ride have changed you permanently. Truly. Having done that ride (though we went to Guadaloupe and Los Alamos and skipped Lompoc) it was very sobering reaching the final stretch. A day to Oxnard then LA, then San Diego. What would you like for dinner Friday?
Fr. Mike