Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 26

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2007

Tears come from the heart and not from the brain

(Leonardo Davinci)

San Simeon State Park → Los Padres National Forest

Distance: 71.33 km, Time: 5:26.02 hrs, Total: 854.30km

   After I crawled out of the small tent my yesterday’s friend and his yellow Kia was not to be seen while his tent was still standing on the same place...For a lonesome person dealing with the death of a close mother and brother within a short time is surely not easy task. On a paper from my notebook I wrote some encouraging words, at the end I wished him the best on his road of life. I put this paper on an easily to be seen spot on the picnic table beside his tent...

   Around 9:00 I was ready with my luggage and picked up my battery from the host Gary. In front of his RV I parked my bike, he was already expecting me. The battery was fully charged and Gary invited me for a cup of morning coffee. I thanked from the heart but he and his wife has already done so much to this stranger that I did not want to bother him and his wife much more. When his wife asked me to wait a little for her to take out the Banana cake of their RV she especially “baked for me“ I could not hold my tears. How did I earn so much friendliness and generosity in a part of the world I have never been? I could not speak so I just gave Gary and his wife a big hug and a hearty handshake. I knew I could never return their kindness in my life to them; I felt in front of them small like a child given an immeasurable gift. Unable to speak any word I left and do not know how I found my way to the entrance of Highway 1 with wet tears until today. !

   My eyes were still wet when a yellow Kia rode directly to me. In it was my neighbor with whom I had a long conversation last night. He told me that he would not miss the sunrise and recited some poets and seemed much more up beaten than yesterday. It was nice to see his changes and after some small talk I wanted to move on. I wished him the best on his way to recovery and on his road in life. Take care my friend!

Grazing Cattle and Zebras @ Hearst Castle

   A very thoughtful lonely bike rider continued riding on Highway 1; the next stop would be the famous Hearst Castle. The land was given by Phoebe Apperson Hearst to her son, the businessman, leading newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951).

   Hearst first approached American architect Julia Morgan with ideas for a new project in April 1919, shortly after he took ownership. Hearst's original idea was to build a bungalow, according to a draftsman who worked in Morgan's office who recounted Hearst's words from the initial meeting: “I would like to build something upon the hill at San Simeon. I get tired of going up there and camping in tents. I'm getting a little too old for that. I'd like to get something that would be a little more comfortable.”

   Hearst Castle featured 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds. Morgan, an accomplished civil engineer, devised a gravity-based water delivery system that transports water from artesian wells on the slopes of Pine Mountain, a 3,500-foot-high (1,100 m) peak 7 miles (11 km) east of Hearst Castle, to a reservoir on Rocky Butte, a 2,000-foot (610 m) knoll less than a mile southeast from Hearst Castle (Wikipedia).

  As a German I have seen and visited many original castles, palaces and cathedrals; for example I did not live far away from the Lichtenstein Castle in the south part of Germany. Therefore, Americans might be shocked, I did not fancy visiting the Hearst Castle.

   But on the way to the castle I discovered a nice picnic area and under a tree I enjoyed the memorable fresh banana cake for breakfast. Every time I see or eat a banana cake I am reminded to this wonderful couple! Thank you so much and be blessed! 
   Still very much in thoughts of this wonderful couple and my friend I enjoyed the meal and was looking forward to experience the Big Sur right in front of me!

Freshly Baked Banana Cake for Breakfast

(to be continued!)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 25

Monday, Sep. 17, 2007

Friendly America

Morro Rock - San Simeon State Park

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

The Hiker & Biker was not far away from the beach, therefore I stuffed my things in my small tent and left with my camera to explore seashore. I went under a small bridge with the Highway 1 over me and came to a very natural beach.

The beach was made of many rocks between them rough sand. I walked over algae washed up from the sea, many real fresh. Surpisingly there was not even one animal to discover; there was no human being around...

Climbing between the rocks I discovered that the back of my hand had some regular brown spots while the rest was white. It took a while to figure out the reason. It was my mesh gloves which protected me under the mesh but not in between. So, taking off my gloves the back of my hand looked like a bride on an Indian wedding with paintings on their hands...

Taking the picutures I realized that the battery of my camera was critically low. Back to my tent I wanted to recharge it but there was no plug to be found. Therefore I walked towards the entrance where the big RVs parked and planned to aske them where I could load my batteris.

I went to the largest of them and ran into Gary from Bakersfield/California who was accidentially the host of the campground. As the state parks try to cut costs they do not let a ranger (who costs salaly!) supervise the campground but ‘hire‘ one of the campers to overtake the duties of a ranger. In return this host can camp for free.

I told him about the problem with me charging the battery he did not say a lot but only opened the side of his RV and plugged my charger with the battery in one out the many outlets. As it was already very dark he asked me about the charging time. I told him that it was getting late and I would pick it up tomorrow. We had some small talk about traveling in general and suddenly he asked me if I want to have a beer. I could not be unpolite and we sat down and had a very nice conversation. Later his wife joined us and she told me about of one German guests, a great fan of Elvis. He travelled with his guitar and perfomred for the couple some songs of his idol,“without any German accent“ as Gary emphasized. His wife told me that their German guest continued to New Orleans, a musical center of the USA.

When mentioning New Orleans I am not talking about the famous song 'City of New Orleans' by Arlo Guthries which is the name of a train. But I remembered that in one Clint Eastwood movie a woman asked him why he stayed in New Orleans. Dirty Harry answered that ‘I put my suitcase down to have a look at this city and when I wanted to grab it again it was gone...‘ We all had a great laugh and a good time with beer and a great conversation but i became real late and I did not want to bother them too much. As we separated the wife went into her RV and gave me a strawberry-banana compote ‘for my way‘ which she made by herself. This small gesture let my heart beat faster in a touching way and even typing this I have a very warm feeling in my heart.

Back to my own tent I noticed an elderly lonely man sitting on the bench before his tent and a yellow small Kia not far away from him. Even from the distance I could see that he was not looking happy so I walked to him and asked him if I could join him. He was a little surprised but had a smile on his face. In the beginning we talked about the nice weather and travel in general.

He continued to tell me about his life. He worked many year in the American healthcare system but two years ago his mother got seriously ill. As the closest relative he took care of her nearly 24 hous a day until she died not long ago. Around the same time his very close elder brother died also. As a single he could not go over these two looses very easily and was reminded that his life will be over some time too!

I do not remember exactly what Bible words I used and what of my experiences I shared to comfort him. I encouraged him to find a new lease to life from the experiences he had while serving the loved ones and not be discouraged but rather to be strong for them and positive to himself. As more we talked as more he opened up until in a mood of joy he went back to his tent and opened a bottle of red wine. We talked until 10:30 pm when went back into my small tent.

Sometimes its strange how days develop, when we are called to help others we never knew before and will never see again. Sometimes I ask myself how would it be if humans just try to be humans, if we really could create a human paradise on earth! I think it is very much possible but first we have to overcome or conquer one's weaker self: the own ego!

"38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6)" 

(to be continued)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 24

Monday, Sep. 17, 2007

Friendly America

Morro Rock - San Simeon State Park

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

   After I left the brick and mortar shop of Cambria Bicycle Outfitter I spent some time checking out Cambria. It was very clean and nearly every house made of wood. I felt back at least 100 years back in time. Every tourist longing for ‘tradition’ in the USA should go there and have a good look.

   What stood out for me was the high portion of European Americans which was unusual high; I could neither see one African American or one Mexican anywhere during my 1 ½ hours research of the town for 1 ½ hours.

   As I wanted to say farewell to the city leaving for Highway 1 northbound I've heard someone shouting my name. I've turned around and recognized the young man who lead my way on his bike from the hardware store to the bike shop. He went with his girlfriend for lunch. After a small talk he shook my hand and wished me good luck for my trip.

   Leaving Cambria I did not quite realize that the road ahead was already a part of Big Sur, a rugged section of California's Central Coast between the Carmel Highlands in the north and San Simeon in the south where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean, that is frequently praised for its dramatic views. Big Sur has been called the 'longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States', a 'national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development' and 'one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world', an isolated stretch of road, mythic in reputation.' (wikipedia)

   Two miles north I came to the San Simeon State Park and Campground for in which I planned to stay for the night. After leaving Highway I came to a small wooden hut which already prepared the registration forms. I registered me, my bike and the tent on the Hiker & Bike, put US$2.00 in an envelop and threw it into a letter box - finished was the DIY registration.

   I wrote to the designated Hiker & Biker and pitched up my tent. I threw all three of my bags (two rear panniers) and one duffel bag into my tent and decided to ride back to Cambria. I remembered a big supermarket at the northern side of the city and wanted to get there for some food and drinks.

   The road was mostly downhill, I enjoyed to ride without any luggage. It did not take long and after arrival I forget to bring a lock. Again, I had 'Gottvertrauen' (trust/faith into the lord) and just leaned it beside a rail protecting the shopping carts. As Big Sur is a long and lonely road I bought a lot of stuff for the road; my bike which was still where I parked it waiting for me!

   While riding back to the State Park I rode and eat 'salt sticks' or 'pretzel sticks' as they are know. Suddenly I noticed a squirrel jumping and running on a wooden path beside the road. I stopped and threw a salt stick in its direction. He took it, sat on his rear legs and nibbled the stick holding it on with his front feet paws. I made a photo before it took off with its possession onto the next tree. I assumed that the squirrel could handle the pretzel stick better than ex-President George W. Bush who chocked on a pretzel and fell on the floor from a couch, bruising his lip and scuffing his cheek!

   Back to the State Park I enjoyed a generous dinner. The food which needed cooling I ate first and finished the whole dinner with a nice cake! After I had eaten I thanked God that He was so kind to give me delicious food to eat and a nice place for the night!   

   (to be continued)