Post Battle of Big Sur

We made it!  Through the roughest, toughest and most isolated part of the coast we've gone through on this trip: Big Sur.  It was a beautiful, awe-inspiring and challenging journey.  We know that there are equal ups and downs when traveling the coast, but man those downhills went by so fast it felt like Big Sur was one huge uphill struggle.  One we are incredibly proud of ourselves to have made through.  So here's what we've been up to the past few weeks! 

After an early goodbye to Matt we headed off to Leo Carrillo State Beach for a night, then all the way up (50 miles) to Carpinteria.  All the way through Ventura county in one day!  Our friends Gillian and Colin were heading North to South on the same Pacific Coast Biking Trail, so we had some great beer boiled brats and swapped stories into the night.  A rest day in Carpinteria was spent relaxing and tasting some delicious beers at a local brewery. 

Then we headed up to Refugio State Beach, where we spent the night with the gentle sound of the waves (punctuated by screaming children) lulling us to sleep.   After spending a rest day in Lompoc (pronounced Lom-poke, apparently) we headed up for a night in Oceano/Pismo Beach area.

After conquering Harris grade on the way out of Lompoc, a little rocking out is in order

 Katie modeling her rainproof parachute pants and feeling pretty good about it.

  On to Morro Bay where we met up with Jesse's College buddy Alex.  We spent a relaxing day at Morro, then all three of us continued on the 26 flat miles to San Simeon.

 Here we are, feeling accomplished after our journey!

Big Sur: 'nuff said.

Greatest way to spend a 25th Birthday: cycling 3 days through Big Sur.