October 22, 2015 – Sun, 70 degrees
Miles Today: 63
Miles to Date: 8,838
States to Date: 25
The fabled ride down California Highway One south from Carmel through Big Sur is a captivating sequence of the sea meeting the land. There are silky beaches, shallow shoals, waves crashing against granite outcroppings and water spouting up sheer cliffs. I began the day beneath a carpet of clouds, pedaled through hours of bright sun, until misty fog rolled over the hills. The sea scent was strong. The sun’s heat was dissipated by thermal drafts and crosscurrents through the canyons. Giant hawks swooped and circled, playing on the tricky breeze. The road itself is gorgeous, a sinewy ribbon that weaves up and down cliffs. Elegant bridges span deep creeks. Highway One was built during the Depression; California’s first scenic highway. It’s still the best.
The Awkward Pose 