Monday, Sep. 10.2007
Finally on the Road!
Hollywood→Coastal Highway 1
Distance: 107.42
km , Duration: 7:51:28 hours, Total
Distance: 181.63 km
After solving the problems with the rear carrier and the chain on my bike I was finally able to leave Santa Monica; my only way was up north to San Francisco along the famous Highway 1.
(to be continued)
One of the
'most celebrated routes' starts actually in San Diego, not far from the Mexican
border, travels north to the beach towns, the bustles and excitement of Los
Angels, through elegant Santa Barbara and surrounding wine country, north to even more beaches and attractions in Carmel, Montgomery and Santa Cruz until it ends
in San Francisco, the 'Bay City'. I've chosen this road because of Big Sur, a
only lightly populated, unincorporated region on California's Central Coast
praised for its rugged coastline, mountain views and the nature which has been called the
'longest and most scenic stretch of 'undeveloped' coastline in the United States'
(wikipedia)".
I steered my steel horse, or more exactly my alloy horse, along Ocean Avenue with the Pacific coast all the way on my left. The road turned to the right, I turned left into the Entrada Drive which led me directly to the Pacific Coast Highway (or Highway 1). For the next two to three weeks, so my plan, this road would led me all the way to my destination San Francisco. Depending on the time I would see how to spend the rest of my holidays...
After a last glance back over my shoulder to Santa Monica the the horizon belonged to me. I have to admit that it was a liberating
feeling to have the street under my tires.
I steered my steel horse, or more exactly my alloy horse, along Ocean Avenue with the Pacific coast all the way on my left. The road turned to the right, I turned left into the Entrada Drive which led me directly to the Pacific Coast Highway (or Highway 1). For the next two to three weeks, so my plan, this road would led me all the way to my destination San Francisco. Depending on the time I would see how to spend the rest of my holidays...
 |
Malibu
City Limits
|
The road was wide and smooth and build for the traffic between greater Los Angeles and Malibu. From far away I could see
the fresh renovated Malibu Pier reaching far into the ocean. It was originally built in 1905
to ship hides, crop, fruit and other agrarian products from the Malibu Rancho
of Mr. Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857-1905). The Rindge private railway (!) moving the freight within the Ranch had a station near the Pier.
In 1934 the Pier was opened for public and charter
fishing; after the bankruptcy of the Marblehead Land Co. (Ringe's land developer)
the Malibu Pier was overtaken by the same share holders who also financed the
development of the city of Malibu itself in 1936. Two years later today's 237 meter long
Malibu Pier was built with the first small fishing businesses. In the winter of
1943-1944 the pier was destroyed by a storm and after the II. Word War the new
pier was built with the characteristic towers, fishing shops and a restaurant
at the end. In 1980 the State of California bought the rather battered pier,
the State Department of Parks and Recreation declared the pier a 'Historic
Landmark' through the Los Angeles County. An El Nino (fluctuation in the
earth's climate system) in 1993 damaged the pier so heavily that only after a
$10.000.000 renovation it was opened in 2008 (wikipedia).
 |
Malibu
Pier
|
I got off my
bike and walked around. I discovered may seagulls which made some risky maneuvers
in the sky or settled on the many rocks. On the Malibu Surfrider Beach many
surfers waited for or surfed on the waves of the afternoon. I've heard that
some Hollywood stars or those who think who are stars come here to surf.
 |
Malibu
Beach
|
My bike lead me
to the Malibu Lagoon where the Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. I dared to
cross the busy road and found an only 0.089 square kilometer large but
species-rich natural habitat which is protected by nature conversation under the State
Beach.
At the entrance there are some free camping benches and tables on this afternoon. As a respect to nature I went off my bike in the lonesome lagoon and
pushed it over a bridge; from there were many birds to be seen and discovered even for an
untrained eye. It's hard to believe that the busy highway is only a few meters away.
I walked until the end of the path which led me directly beside the ocean. I stood there for a while to absorb the silence of the nature. When I returned I ran into the only other human whom I greeted with a friendly 'hello'...
I walked until the end of the path which led me directly beside the ocean. I stood there for a while to absorb the silence of the nature. When I returned I ran into the only other human whom I greeted with a friendly 'hello'...
 |
Malibu Lagoon in the afternoon
|
No comments:
Post a Comment