Saturday July 18, 2015, 167 miles (269 km) – Total so far: 9,519 miles (15,319 km)

Three days 167 miles We had a really nice day Wednesday strolling through downtown Morro Bay with my niece Makani. Morro Bay is a small, touristy but not too crowded beach town in front of the massive Morro Rock. We visited a really cool skateboard museum that brought me back to my youth. I sure wish I had my old board along with so many other things from my childhood. After a nice portside lunch we continued to walk then checked into our motel room before an afternoon wine tasting. It is days like this that make bicycle touring so fun when you stop and explore an area. The following morning we packed everything up and went back to Makani’s townhouse in San Luis Obispo where Jocelyn and Nicole spent the night. We were soon on the road and passed by Pismo Beach, another blast from the past when I was a kid. The afternoon took us to Andee’s cousin Pam’s house in Santa Maria where we enjoyed a delicious barbeque.

The next day we rode back to the coast and visited one of my favorite childhood places, Andersen’s Split Pea Restaurant in Buellton. I always get the all you can eat split pea soup. In the past I was able to eat at least six bowls but today I could only eat three. What a great soup, restaurant, motel, and shops that has been serving travelers since 1924. We were soon on the coast and met Andee at El Capitan State Beach where we were able to score a hiker/biker campsite on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Pacific. What a wonderful spot! As you can see we are all still together and will remain so until we reach my hometown of Oxnard on Sunday. There we will meet my sister Tish and spent the day on Oxnard beach. Monday morning we will part ways.

We arrived in Oxnard, California after a rainy ride. This day has been the wettest of the last 6 weeks and 1600 miles. We arrived in my hometown in the rain.