yay! for hostel with rental computer!!

We are treating ourselves to showers.  If you ever have the opportunity to stay a night or 3 in the Cambria, stay at the Bridge Street Inn Hostel.  Love.  I inquired about jobs here.  Its that good. 
More awesome biking.  Hills are not longer scary.  We are kind of rocking them actually.  In fact, we were told today that we are rock stars.  🙂  Camp site last night was fine.  Sleeping warm.  Met Doc, who is usually a long distance hiker, not biker.  “Doc” is his hiker name.  He asked if bikers have road names.  I told him my bike’s name is Sloopy.  Ellen is afraid of Doc. 
Expensive in these parts!!  I have been thinking i (or someone, hint hint) should get a taco truck and make this the route.  Undersell these jerks. 
A remarkable thing happened!  We rolled into SanSimeon (passed very smelly Point Piedras Blanco.  ack!) (hilarious pit stop for elephant seals) We had a gigantic sandwich at the historic general store (met Roger – biker/environmental manager) Then… a guy in a hat asked about our route. He helped us take a photo in front of the store.  He happened to arrive at the ticket counter at the Hearst Castle at the same time as us.  He offered to buy our tickets!!  Ellen and I were/still are besides ourselves with astonishment.  His name is Adam.  He’s from Phoenix.  That’s all we know – he disappeared.  We are very happy at the kindness of strangers.  it’s just heartwarming and inspiring. 
on down the road!

big push through Big Sur

GREAT riding in Big Sur!!  can’t get very far during this stretch because there aren’t many camping options.  that’s fine – let’s not rush it!  the place we are staying tonight is pretty nice, turns out.  lots of tents!  Los Padres National Park – Plaskett camp site.  $5.  no showers (i really need one!)  since we were here early we set up the tent and biked up to a path.  Led to a cliff and down to the waves crashing on rocks.  Found a nice perch to watch the waves rolling in.  Thinking.  Ellen spotted a sea lion – FINALLY!  we’d been passing refuges but not seeing any.  This one was a real surprise in all the wave commotion.  Just there for a moment.  Perfect timing though. 
We couldn’t get out of Big Sur camp site fast enough this morning…  a SKUNK tormented us all night, trying to get at a packaged rotissere chicken.  sounded like rocks tumbling in a box by our heads.  WHY?!  so infuriating.  i even blew my whistle (before i knew it was a skunk – eek!) Once we saw it was a skunk there was nothing we could do.  The next morning i was like “i’m going to find the owners of this chicken and THEY are going to throw it away!”  Ellen pointed out i was starting to sound like Old Ed on his RV revenge tour.  Hilarious!  We are laughing a lot out here.  
I’ve realized: this ride is amazing.  this is the best riding i’ve ever had.  Spectacular.  this and the road of death in Bolivia.  not bad.  also realized.. this won’t be my last!  next trip: North Sea Cycle Route