Day 13 - Lions and Zebras and Flaggs - Oh My.

Day 13

Set off in the cold after breakfast with me wearing my rain jacket, along the flat coast road. Sent Dean back to check out the sea lions I had seen yesterday and look out for the zebras from Hearst Castle (Dean said he preferred Castle Donington!) I didn’t see any zebra – but Dean did through the fog – not clear enough for photos! Road was smooth for a good many miles – after about 50 we stopped for lunch in a really nice Italian restaurant. There was a good tail wind and lots of activity in the fields which was interesting – lots of pickers in some and others being ploughed. However the GPS went crazy again and took me off the planned route and so Dean and I were separated and I was on my own for about 55 miles – thankfully Dean eventually found me with some food – which was brilliant as I was about ready to pass out at that stage. After Dean left there was a big climb – at the top was ~ 130 miles. On the way down was a group of people waving and cheering – “Very nice” I thought – but strange Dean wasn’t with them. I went whizzing by! At the bottom was another group of people – I was a bit confused as to who and why but hey it was great - however I went storming by again – not really quite with it after 130 plus miles and the steep climb which really exhausted me – I guess I was a little punch drunk. Anyway I slowly realized it was the same group and when I stopped at the traffic lights they caught up with me to say hello. Mike and Kathy Flagg and family from KC in Roswell!! A huge thank you to Mike and my apologies for seeming rather dazed! The support meant so much and really cheered me up and spurred me on for the next 25 miles or so! Thanks Guys!!

Went through Santa Barbara – really, really nice – first place we have passed through that I would like to return to! (Did you know Michael Jackson’s Neverland is up in the hills just here?) The last part of the day’s journey was pretty awful – ended up on the Highway as it was getting dark. However Dean found a nice hotel overlooking the ocean in Ventura where we are going to stay tonight! It’s been a long day with the GPS probably adding 15 unnecessary miles to my journey!! Never mind – good night!