Day 21 - Thursday October 1, 2015 South of Orcutt to Carpinteria

The day started with a few clouds, a few rain drops and a drive to the starting point.

Traveling along the coast route is so much more diverse than I every realized.  Today we had clouds, rain, dust and sunshine.  Small towns, larger ones, small curvy roads, city streets and freeways.  Signage was good and no one took a wrong route - although, I admit, I may have taken a wrong turn or two down dead end streets.  Thanks for GPS, I can always find my way back to the route.

      The route took us along a freeway for a bit.  As we approached the off ramp to Buellton (home of Andersen's Split Pea Soup store) - there was a huge sign indicating that no pedestrians, bicycles, etc allowed on freeway.  Checked in at the Visitor Center to re-group and found out that if you just traveled down main street past the pea soup store, you could get right back on Hwy 101.  Great marketing help from the highway department.

Our stop for the night is in Carpinteria where they are getting all set up for the Avacado Festival.  Who knew?

Notes from Tom:

A little rain, some wet roads with mud due to all of the agricultural vehicles coming out of the fields, then some sun, and finally some wicked cross winds heading into Goleta--wicked enough to be dangerous.  For the first time on this whole ride, I thought it was hot.  We all survived in spite of the elements.

Stats were 85.6 miles, 5 hours and 40 minutes, and a 15.1 mph average.

Notes from Jerry:

We started the day with a surprise spritz of rain and a spectacular rainbow - a good omen.  We immediately were in a major vegetable growing area as we wheeled towards Los Alamos.  I was itching for some Santa Ynez wine or at least one of those great sandwiches at the Los Olivos sandwich shop, but it was not to be - we turned right onto hwy 101 and hit Buelton and the beach at Gaviota.  Gusty winds had us riding at ridiculous angles and wiggling all over the place until we got into Goleta.  Once again spectacular views of beaches and clear water.  Alas, no surf, the ocean was like a lake but oh so pretty. The Adventure Cycling Map got us through Santa Barbara and I the Pacific Coast Bide Trail is well marked, so we pretty much winged it to Carpenteria.  A great day!