Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 32

Thursday, Sep. 20, 2007

Run for Life

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park → Monterey

Distance: 97.56 km, Time: 7:11:52 Std., Total: 1036 km

   After crawling out of my tent some drops were still falling thru the early morning. It might sound strange but I tried to avoid the Vietnam veteran. I packed my small tent and sleeping bag into my duffel bag and all other things in their proper bags. During all the time I did not even once look at this guy.

   I am actually a socially active and open kind of person until today, while I am typing it. But I hate drugs and alcohol because as a child I was confronted with an alcoholic and out of control father for many, many years. 

   Therefore I packed my things as fast as I could and only wanted to leave this beautiful State Park as soon as possible. I unlocked my bike, fixed the luggage on it and nearly jumped on it. Just in this moment I passed the veteran on my bike as he tried to pick himself up from the drugs and sleeping under the open sky. He was sitting there with confused eyes and woolly hair, obviously still in ‘another world’. Passing him I pressed a “Good Morning” between my teeth and cycled like a madman out of the park. Today I am working with homeless in Taiwan but they have a sense of pride and respect for themselves which obviously cannot be found in this homeless in the 'promised land' of the USA.

   Outside of yesterday’s Big Sur General Store there is a public telephone from which I wanted to call my wife. On a sharp corner I fell down with my bike on the road which never happened before. My rear bag softened the crash and I escaped off this misfortune lightly. Only then I calmed down...I called my wife and daughter but I did not tell them them about this experience. They should enjoy my trip and not worry about me.

   I continued to cycle through a thick forest which belongs to the Andrew Molera State Park. This part of Big Sur is a relatively undeveloped state park, preserving land as requested by the former owner Frances Molera (wikipedia).

   Finally, I reached a treeless area looking more like a ranch, on the left I discovered an obvious empty farmhouse, under the tool roof I took a little break and cover from a light rain. I did not quite realize that I already have passed the Big Sur as I imagined, it was gone at this very moment. The scenery in front of my eyes was much less spectacular, high mountains became plains, the thick forests became sparsely groves and the loneliness would be taken over by busy noises of the cities soon.
   Back on the street I discovered in the distance a vulcanic rock right out of the ocean which reminded me to the Morro Rock at Morro Bay only much wider. On it the blinking light of the Point Sur Lightstation could be seen through the mist. The lighthouse is 12 m (40 feet) tall. 

Point Sur State Historic Park and Lighthouse

www.californiabeaches.com

   
   As the sun finally broke through the clouds I cycled over the historically and for the traffic important Bixby Creek Bridge, 13 miles of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This is one of the most photographed bridges in California due to its aesthetic design, “graceful architecture and magnificent location”. The bridge is 714 feet (218 m) in total length, 24 feet (7.3 m) wide, with 260 feet (79 m) of clearance below, and has a main span of 360 feet or 110 m (wikipedia).
   The coast of Big Sur in general is a 'natural' dangerous coast for ships and boats. So, from Aug 01, 1889. this lighthouse made it much safer. Until 1974 keepers and their families lived on the lonely site. After the lighting became automated no one was needed to take care of it. The empty buildings became part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation as the Point Sur State Historic Park.
   When I came to the gate directly beside the Highway 1 it was securely locked. The wind was blowing, there was still a light rain but the light guiding the ships was circling through the morning mist. I continued my way after trying to make a photo in these not favorable conditions.

(to be continued)