Day Six, Lompoc to Ventura

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Back to the Coast

The elevation for today's ride looks intimidating, as the first 18 miles are all uphill. However, it's a gentle climb, and by the time we reached rest stop 1 at mile 15, it's not until I looked back that I realized there was a grade. On previous ALC's, after 4-5 days of riding, there's an emotional low-point, a time when I say "enough already" and I'm looking to click my bike cleats together three times. It wasn't so bad this time around, though I was grumpy for the first segment this morning. There is a whole series of emotions I go through on the rides, and the funny thing is, if I just keep pedaling, the next one comes around soon enough. I had some caffeine at rest stop 1 and by the time I was back on the road, I was feeling better.

Typically the final few miles of this climb are enshrouded in fog and it's quite chilly, but today it was clear. While there have been highs and lows, the weather overall has been quite temperate this time around- I think this is the best weather we've had on any of the rides I've done. (See, climate change can be your friend!)

The route today started inland at Lompoc and headed out to the coast. It's nice to be back along the ocean, with some amazing views. When we got to Santa Barbara, there is this incredible vista overlooking the ocean and the boardwalk and the town. A local group hosts a special rest stop called the "Paradise Pit", with great ice cream and strawberries and cookies. I tried not to gorge too much, knowing I had a couple dozen miles left in the day. Three scoops of ice cream, two cookies, and a handful of strawberries doesn't really count as "gorging", does it?

Today's route was 85 miles long. I try to be zen about this experience, to enjoy the moment, not race ahead, yadda yadda. But seriously, for the last 8 miles today, it was really all about the destination and not the journey! I just wanted to get back to camp, shower and sit still for a minute.