Day 41 - Long wind(ed)

Big Sur, CA to Plaskett Creek, CA - 36 miles

My childhood was peppered with trips to Southern California to visit family.  I have great memories of those trips!  My siblings and I became very familiar with the route and our typical stops.  On one trip, my parents decided to spice it up by cutting across California and driving down the coast.

I remember the following conversation near Big Sur between my parents and one of my siblings:

Sibling: Mom, turn around and look at this.
Mom: I can't.  I'm watching the road.
Sibling: But Dad's driving.
Mom: I know.
Dad: OK, I'll look then.
Mom: Don't you dare take your eyes off the road!

I don't remember the specifics of the journey, but that conversation always conjures up images of narrow, winding roads, swift-moving traffic, no shoulder and steep cliffs.  I was a bit nervous about this part of the trip with the boys, but I needn't have worried.  We had plenty of space to ride and turnouts to rest.  Besides, 4 bicycles and 2 bright yellow trailers are quite conspicuous.  We tend to stand out like conservatives in Garberville.

Did I mention Garberville?  We drove through there about 10 days ago.  How should I describe Garberville?... I've got it!  At my High School senior awards assembly, there was a special award given.  After the typical awards "Most popular," "Most Athletic," etc., the Juniors presented an award to the "Most Grunge-Dressing, Long-Hair-Wearing, Frisbee-Hucking Hippee in the School."  That is the phrase that comes to my mind when I think of Garberville, CA.  It was a bit too free-spirited for my conservative nature.

It's fitting that today's post is long-winded because today was long and windy!  At one point, Stephen asked me if I wanted to ride all the way to Argentina.  I told him that was like asking a woman in labor if she wanted to have another baby.  While Big Sur on a bicycle in a head wind is a beautiful experience, it's also a brutal one.

Tonight we are staying at a National Park.  The only difference between a State Park and a National Park is one thing: showers.  National Parks don't have them.  I knew it was a possibility on this trip that we may stay at a campground without showers, so I had a plan.  I would warm up water on the stove and at least towel myself clean and put on clean clothes before going to bed.  There's no way I'm climbing into a sleeping bag covered in sweat and dirt from the day!  What I wasn't prepared for was the boys' reaction to no showers.  "WORST CAMPSITE EVER!"  It warms my heart that they're so concerned about personal hygiene.  We each took a bath with a pan of hot water and a towel, and I didn't hear any more complaints after that.