Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 41

Sunday, Sep. 23, 2007

Arrival in San Francisco

Half Moon Bay State Beach → San Francisco

Distance: 90.5 km, Time: 6:26:10 hrs, Total Distance: 1327.88km

   When I woke up I immediately realized that it would be a special day for me. After I left Los Angeles 13 days ago (Sep. 10) I would today, not only two weeks later, arrive San Francisco. 

   At that time with all these impressions and kind people I could not quite comprehend that time would fly so fast. All these thought about the past and the expectations of the day  were running through my mind even before I crawled out of my very small tent.

   My new English friend Mark woke up at roughly the same time and together we packed our things. As I left for the morning toilet he promised me to take care of my stuff, I did the same for him. 

   After I finished I waited for him and the first and last time I had a riding buddy cycling beside of me. Together we cycled through the gate of the Sate Park until to the main road. There we stopped, shook our hands and wished the best. He turned right to the south and I turned left to the north. A strange feeling of sadness overtook me at the moment of separation but life continues...

  A few hundred meters later I turned right into an industrial area and discovered an American fast food restaurant in which I enjoyed a nice breakfast with a cup of coffee. While indulging myself I browsed through a free local newspaper. Inside the pages I’ve discovered an article about the growing population and the problems of the homeless in Half Moon Bay. There were some arguments everyone would or could agree on but I could not believe my eyes when the author truly suggested that the “simplest solution of these problems was to put them (the homeless) on a bus and send them to San Francisco!"

   In my own opinion this solution is a total wrong approach to the problem. First someone should research why a problem actually exists. The truth is that a few Americans become richer while the poorer stay poor. This is because the education system is not equal for everyone, only ‘rich’ can afford a good education. The second is the tax system which benefits the companies while there is no break for families or individuals. At that time President Bush was very ‘famous’ for the politics benefitting the wealthy and companies, with Trump it got even worse. The third problem is that the solution of the homeless problem is solved with money. The best way is to educate “teach a person how to fish and not give him or her free fish to eat”.

   Working with homeless for two years I found out that homeless need first of all respect, self esteem and chances to change. The former are for free but it seems America’s social values are mainly based on three things: money, money and money. I do not quite understand that illegal immigrants find jobs why local Americans cannot find work. But as I read the article I did not quite understand that it actually prepared me for my time in 'Frisco'. 

   The husband of the lovely couple in the State Beach drew me a simple map which helped me a lot (thank you!). The road was straight and surprisingly well maintained and clean. I took it very easy and reflected on my trip the last two weeks, especially thought about the helpful people and the great weather! God was kind to me, thank you so much! 

   In Pacifica, a city beside the Pacific Ocean halfway between Half Moon Bay and San Francisco, I discovered a restaurant with a live band playing Jazz on this Sunday morning. With the beats in my ears I climbed a high hill and got somehow lost. Back near the ocean I asked a policeman filling up his private car at a gas station for the right direction. He was so friendly and gave me the right directions. After another steep climb, which gave me nearly the rest, I came to a rather flat road. It looked like a Highway, the cars were driving fast and passed me scarcely close. I was not quite sure if I could ride on this road, but everyone seemed to be busy for themselves.

   Finally I arrived at the doors of my travel destination: San Francisco! In this moment a life long dream came true. When I was small I was too young for the Flower Power, that's why I did not put the "flowers in my hair!" as the song suggests (by the way, I am bold anyway)...

   In the 1970s I was very fond of the TV series "The Streets of San Francisco" with Karl Malden (1912-2009) and the than-young young Michael Douglas as detectives Mike Stone and Steve Keller solving homicides. Especially the car chasing scenes were for a young boy very fascinating.

   It might sound strange but after nearly two weeks on lonely roads I had to get used to the dense traffic. Especially the speed and the aggressive style of the big city was very surprising for me in the beginning. 

(to be continued)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 40

Saturday, Sep. 22, 2007

Half Moon Bay

?→Half Moon Bay State Beach 

Distance: 83.08 km, Time: 5:46:12 hrs, Total: 1,237.38 km

  On the right side beside the road I've discovered the signpost to the Half Moon Bay State Beach (95 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, 650.726-8819). I followed it and came to a small wooden hut beside the entrance. In this was an elderly couple sitting working voluntarily. Both of them were very lovable and we immediately started a nice conversation. The husband confirmed me that this is the last state park before San Francisco, for the moment my final destination of my trip. It would be an extra 30 miles (or 48 km) before I would reach the "City by the Bay". He was so kind to draw me a simple map on a white peace of paper that I would not 'get lost' on my last stage of the tour. I thanked both pensioners a lot and cycled slowly to my assigned place at the Hiker & Biker part of the campground.
   The Campground has 52 individual sites for tents, trailers and RVs up to 40 feet. Because not far away from San Francisco I believe that over the weekends there are many city people here going 'country' and enjoy the break from the busy life.   

   It was still early afternoon, therefore no need to hurry. I took my still damp one man tent out of my bag and build it just to let it dry in the sun. 

   While I was busy I became acquainted with Jim walking his Labrador Dipsy, named after  the green Teletubbies character, a famous children TV series especially in the UK and the USA. He explained me that he watched me, the biker, for quite a time and wanted to learn more about me. Within a few minuted he told me about his own bike adventures which led him to many places in the USA and Canada. He had to admit that he should bring his own bike...

   The sun was still standing in the sky. Therefore I decided to find something to eat for dinner. When I left the State Park I took a photo from the sign. Later I found a shopping mall and bought my dinner there for eating it on the campground. Coming back to the Park I've discovered a bridle path right parallel to the State Park. Later I've discovered two Mexican riding instructors teaching an American family...

   As I arrived on my campground I've met a young English chap named Mark. For him it was also his first bike tour but in the opposite direction from the northern San Francisco to the southern Los Angeles. As an 'old timer' I was glad to share my experiences over a map which he noted in his small notebook. As with the daylight his light of the flashlight became noticeable weaker I gave him batteries as a gift, which I brought as spares from Taiwan. As a barter he gave me some cookies which were very tasty.

   

   Strangely even after many years after the end of the II. World War there is still so much talked and written about the relationship between Great Britain and Germany. Than Prime Minister Margret Thatcher was against the reunification of West and East Germany in fear of a strong Germany, the British were the first and only member who decided to leave the European Union. But today I've learned in the distant USA that the British can be quite contrary. It was so interesting to talk with him about his job as a business consultant or  to exchange views on the Premier League club Chelsea FC who had the German player Michael Ballack in their lineup and the situation about the just fired manager Jose Mourinho.

  The time passed on a fly and we went back in our tents after a very interesting evening at around 10:00 pm. My tent was dry like a piece of crispbread and my sleeping bag became the cloud of a newborn baby. 

(to be continued)  

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 22

Sunday, Sep. 16, 2007

Beaches and Missions

Oceano Dunes → Morro Rock

Distance: 84.20 km, Time: 5:50:36 hrs, Total: 710.62 km

On the small wooden hut at the entrance of the Morro Bay State Park a kind Ranger invited me to register myself, my bike and my small tent at the Hiker & Biker. The way to the campground is located within a forest and frankly spoken, for a man-made campground it does not get much more 'natural' than that. As a kid I enjoyed the smell of trees and especially pinewood with moist needles on the ground; the whole campground's scent let me travel back in time. 

On the Hiker & Biker I had an unexpected surprise in the form of the first fellow biker and was looking forward to a nice evening. He introduced himself as Peter, an American travel biker. He cycled from the north to visit a friend in the south of the USA. Contrary to me he was a comfort camper with a 4-men tent so large that he parked his bike in it. My small one man tent seemed to be lost beside his; he meant that I ‘travel light’. I put mine beside his tent and both were at the edge of the forest not far away from a free range golf course.

Before it got dark I’ve tried to find in the proximity of the State Park something to eat. Leaving the park I had a good view on the Morro Rock, a volcanic plug in the Morro Bay. It is a 581 foot (177 m) lava dome and mostly compost of dacite, an igneous, volcanic rock, and partially of petrified bird feces (solid or semisolid remains of the food that could not be digested), which have compacted into the plug over the year (wikipedia). 

I cycled northbound through a clean neighborhood but beside beautiful houses I could neither find a supermarket nor a restaurant. So I had to stick with the salad for dinner.

During the dinner me and Peter sat together and he told me about his cycling adventure. I asked especially about San Francisco and he only answered: “I arrived with a $1000 bike and returned with a $600 bike!” This meant that this original bike got stolen and he had to get a new one. He warned me to be very careful in the city of 'flower power' San Francisco!

After the sunset we watched a group of deer moving on the edge of the forest on the golf course and eating the grass there in the twilight. What a natural and peaceful sight on this late evening! I took this feeling in my small tent and had a great night!

Monday, Sep. 17, 2007

Friendly America

Morro Rock - San Simeon State Park

Distance: 72.35 km, Time: 5:09:21 hrs, Total: 782.97km

After I peeled myself out of the sleeping bag and the tent at 8:00 in the morning my friend Peter left already. I personally was not in a hurry and wanted to take my time. As I did not take a shower for the last 4 days (!) I took the chance to do it in this nice environment. After I felt clean and fresh I packed my things so slowly that I have to admit that I did not want to leave this comfortable campground at all.

The Ranger at the entrance was also not there but instead of turning right to the north I turned left. Yesterday I discovered a small harbor so I parked my bike there and walked around to have a look. The sun did not rise too long ago so I took a photo in this early morning of the ships fixed by ropes on the harbor. 

Finally I went back to my bike and cruised north to the City of Morro as it is known officially. It is still in San Luis Obispo County and has around 10.000 citizens. The 1st Europeans explored the coast near Morro Bay on Sep. 08, 1769; the Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespi noted in his diary that “we saw a great rock in the form of a round morro”. The term 'morro' is common to the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian languages, and part of place names where there is a distinctive and prominent hill-shaped rock formation (wikipedia).

(to be continued)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 5

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

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” Ernest Hemingway

 

Today I finally left the hotel after an acclimatization time of two days. My pulse increased due to the very noticeable joy, clear symptoms of travel fever.

Already at 6:30 I stood beside a telephone booth on Hollywood Boulevard to call my wife and daughter in Taiwan. She was happy for me that everything went smooth and wished me good luck on my tour. It's a pity that she could not be with me...

Back in the hotel I showered extensively, organized my things and packed them into my bags. The waterproof duffel bag with my tent and sleeping bag was still untouched; obviously I do not need either of them... The reception opened at 7:30 so I went to a nearby Mexican restaurant and ordered scrambled eggs with bacon and a good mug of coffee ($3.50). In this early hour I was the only customer.

The time of my finished breakfast coincided with the opening of the reception. The lady was not quite awaken yet but everything went smoothly. With the check-out she returned my $40.00 'security deposit' something I've never heard of. Because this 'hotel' did not give me any key so I did not have to return one.

View of the Hotel

Back in the room I said goodbye to my German friend who woke up in the meantime. I wished him good luck for his time in the US and send him my best wishes from the heart.

With full hands I hauled my bags to my bike already pawing with his hoofs (or wheels). On the handlebar I attached my handlebar bag, on the rear carrier two saddlebags and the duffel bag I fixed on the top of the rear carrier with an elastic cord. On the empty carton in which I sent the bike to the US I wrote 'Do not discard before Oct. 05'. But, as it later turned out, I did not need it due to a miracle in San Francisco.

Full of high spirits I left the hotel and cycled passed the friendly Toyota Dealer and the breakfast Mexican restaurant along Santa Monica Boulevard until I arrived Beverly Hills. Here lives, as portrayed by young Will Smith in the 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air', the High Society. Lavish houses with well looked after gardens are dominant, European and predominantly German cars are parked on the driveways.

I cycled under comfortable shady trees when I notice a middle age lady jogging. She stumbled and seemingly hurt her ankle but obviously could hobble back home.

Beverly Hills

I continued and discovered the 'Church of the Good Shepherd'. The parish was founded on December 12, 1923 and is therefore the oldest church in Beverly Hills. From the architectural point of view the church is build in Mission Revival architecture, the stained glass was  originally shipped from France, Germany, the British Isles and the US. Most Catholic movie stars who live or lived in Beverly Hills, from Rudolph Valentino to Bing Crosby attended Sunday Mass here (wikipedia).

Church of the Good Shepherd

Not far away I've discovered the Electric Fountain Beverly Hills on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards. In the center is a statue of a North American Indian kneeling in prayer. The sun stood so that the water broke into a rainbow in the moment I took the photo. This peaceful picture should served as a symbol of my upcoming bike tour unfolding right in front of my eyes.

Electric Fountain Beverly Hill

I cycled along the same part of Wishire Boulevard like yesterday. My next destination was the Statue of Santa Monica who gave the name to this district of Los Angeles. Also known as Monica of Hippo (322-387) she was an early Christian saint and the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered and honored in most Catholic denomination, albeit on different feast days, for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, an her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who wrote extensively of her pious acts and life with her in his Confessions. Popular Christian legends recall Santa Monica weeping every night for her son Augustine. He was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy.

(to be continued)