Peaceful & Frantic Final Day

On Sunday, I hooked up with Dr. J's Sunday ride.  It was only 30 miles but it pushed me over 500 for the vacation and over 37,000' of climbing.  I was satisfied with this but still regret I did not make it back up The Fig, also did not climb Harris Grade over by Vandenberg Air Force Base and would have liked to get back out to Refugio and climb the paved side coming up from the ocean.  I asked, Dave, the owner of Dr. J's about that climb and his reply was, "Dude, that is a knurly ride and tougher than the Fig."  I suspected this and look forward to doing it next time I'm out there.

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Had an afternoon off and walked around visiting various cafes and people watching. Lots of cyclists cruising by on the main drag, Mission Street.  The best cafe is the Bulldog Cafe which is where all the cyclists meet and frequently start rides. I walked a circuitous route back to the hotel and stopped at a restaurant to order carryout since I had to take apart the bike and pack it.  Many Solvang businesses have a facade that reminds one of a Danish village and this is one of Solvang's niches.  Another interesting aspect is the businesses are virtually all locally owned.  Pharmacies, grocery stores, restaurants and miscellaneous shops have been in someone's family for decades in most cases.  The only franchise is a Subway.

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So, begin taking apart the bike at about 8:00pm and soon discovered the wrench that quickly takes my old pedals off does not work on the new pedals.  Instead, a fairly large Allen wrench is required and I began to worry.  Headed to the lobby where I was told the maintenance people were gone and the room where some tools are kept was locked and no one had a key.  All businesses that might have the tool were closed but there was a Walmart 30 miles away in Lompoc that may have it.  Argghhh.  I went outside and began approaching people who looked like cyclists and inquired about availability of large Allen wrench.  Everyone was helpful but no one had the correct size.  Headed back to the lobby and after putting on my best hopeless/helpless face, the worker said he may be able to find a key for the tool room and soon he came out with a set of small Allen wrenches, all way too small.  Headed back to the room to grab the car keys for the long drive to Lompoc.  The phone rang, they had found two larger wrenches and EUREKA!!! one fit.  All parts quickly came apart and the bike was packed.

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Well, that's about it.  When I reached home, a quick scale stop confirmed my worst fears, I had gained 5 pounds.  The Danish pastries, 2 cans of Monster each day, large meals and a small quantity of wine had overridden the calories lost from cycling.  I could have come out, ridden as I did and limit eating and emerged from the week at a summer weight but what fun would that have been?  I would do it again and can't wait to do it again.

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A last look at a cycling mecca