Hiking, cycling & reviews
  • Home
  • The adventurers
    • Guestbook
    • Contact us
  • Hiking
  • World cycle trip
    • Blog
    • Travel journal
    • Equipment list
    • Visa info
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Videos
  • Tough Mudder
  • Gear reviews
    • Black Diamond Hilight Tent Review 2020
    • Black Diamond Bibler Ahwahnee tent
    • Thermarest Neoair Medium
    • Down Under Travel Insurance
    • Southern Cross Travel Insurance
  • Other sites
  • Home
  • The adventurers
    • Guestbook
    • Contact us
  • Hiking
  • World cycle trip
    • Blog
    • Travel journal
    • Equipment list
    • Visa info
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Videos
  • Tough Mudder
  • Gear reviews
    • Black Diamond Hilight Tent Review 2020
    • Black Diamond Bibler Ahwahnee tent
    • Thermarest Neoair Medium
    • Down Under Travel Insurance
    • Southern Cross Travel Insurance
  • Other sites

Lake Cachuma and the San Marcos Pass

11/2/2010

0 Comments

 
Distance- 102km

A quick internet search has revealed that on the Californian central coast someone was killed by a coyote pack, and another by a cougar...

Luckily Sam did the search after we camped...

During the night I also recalled a story I'd seen on TV in the lead up to Halloween, about a group of three friends driving late at night who stopped to pick up a hitchhiker. The guy got in and didn't say anything. As they pulled away the driver started chatting... he looked in the rearview mirror - but the guy had disappeared... 

This hitchhiker ghost has apparently appeared on that highway many times. Somehow in the night I convinced myself we were on that highway, and if I opened my eyes to look outside the tent, he would be floating there...

Despite the howling coyotes and fears of ghostly visitations we managed eight hours sleep. 

And despite four very tired legs, we set off in high spirits for what was to be our last day of riding before a well earned rest.

The air was warm and I was enjoying the sunshine. The road was fairly flat and we moved quickly, despite some occasionally blustery cross winds.

With about 20 miles to go we started riding uphill on highway 154. We were going past the beautiful Lake Cachuma, and now the sun was beating down.

The road kept on going up... we have no map so didn't know how far it would keep going. The road was fairly narrow, but there was a shoulder for most of the way so there was no pressure from cars.

It kept going for a long time, and topped at 680 metres, setting us up for the exhilarating ride down to beautiful, coastal Santa Barbara. 



Some interesting info on the San Marcos Pass from the source of all knowledge, wikipedia:

A military expedition crossed the pass in a rainstorm on the night of December 24, 1846... 300 men sent to capture Santa Barbara, California, during the Mexican-American War. 

In spite of losing 150 horses and mules, as well as cannon, which slid down the muddy slopes of the rough path, the men regrouped and captured the town without bloodshed, thereby securing the territory for the United States.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Sam and Shanna Evans are from Melbourne, Australia

    Archives

    September 2012
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010

    Categories

    All
    Albania
    Bali
    Beach
    Belgium
    Brisbane
    Camping
    China
    Croatia
    England
    Flights
    France
    Gold Coast
    Greece
    Indonesia
    Ireland
    Italy
    Java
    Laos
    Malaysia
    Mexico
    Montenegro
    Netherlands
    Nsw Coast
    Pacific Highway
    Preparation
    Repairs
    Scotland
    Singapore
    Switzerland
    Thailand
    Transport
    Turkey
    Usa
    Wales
    Welcome

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.