The End is Near!

I left Loreto with Aiden(Ireland), Jules and Megs(Australia), and Rusty and Lorely(England) just planning to ride with them for the day.  However, they were just too much fun to ride with, so I stayed with them for a three nights in the desert.  The first day we headed up a beautiful mountain pass where I witnessed my third accident in Baja. As I was taking pictures of a roadside memorial at a hairpin near the top of the pass  I heard a slam.  I turned around to see a motorcyclist sliding on his stomach and face across the pavement into the other lane.  He just missed oncoming traffic and the guardrail, thankfully he was wearing a helmet and stopped before he slid off the cliff.  This could have been so much worse!  So I rushed over to him and pulled the motorcycle off his legs and he was alright other than a bad scrape on his eyebrow and cheek.  The man was American and in his 70's riding his brand new bike back from La Paz. Mexico is not the place to learn to ride a motorcycle. Due to his bruised ego he didn't let me help him get his bike started but luckily Aiden was able to convince the gentleman to let him help and he got the bike started for him.  After all the excitement we found a campsite in a small town for the night.  The next morning we headed out for three days on some of the flattest and straightest road yet.  We arrived in La Paz on Saturday and are have been staying in a cheap hotel since while the other prepare to leave on the ferry to Mazatlan this afternoon.  I have been so fortunate to meet so many amazing people on this trip.  Today I will say goodbye to many of those people who have inspired me.  There are many more adventures to be had and I look forward to seeing you all in the future when I come to your side of the world!  I will miss you, but its just a see you later.

There are just two more days left on the road  until I have reach the tip of the Peninsula! I will leave tomorrow for Todos Santos, stay there for a day at the beach and the next day I will arrive in Cabo San Lucas.  There I will have a day to  box my bike up and on Saturday the 11th I will hop on Alaska Airlines and be home for breakfast on the 12th.

The Baja

Cycling through the Baja desert has been such a remarkable experience.  Some days the only thing to make you feel like your on the same planet is a Loncheria or a cactus farm just off the dusty road.  I absolutely love traveling through this whole new culture and environment.  However, I feel that in order to experience it in full and to reflect on my past 5 months on the road I need to separate from the large group I have been so comfortable with in Mexico.  The last 600 kilometers of my adventure I will experience on my own and with different cyclists along the way.

Here is a glimpse of what had been happening since I left Orange County.

Ryan and I awoke the morning after our farewell dinner at Dave and Maria’s to the sound of Joost, Michiel, and our new companion Jocelyn arriving at the house.  Jocelyn lives in Santa Cruz and was going to ride with us for a few days to do a follow up article on Joost and Michiel’s foundation.  We decided to make the 100 mile ride to the border in three days so that Jocelyn’s trip wouldn’t be over in one night on the road.  The push to San Diego was absolutely beautiful, everyday we road through little beach towns like Del Mar and Carlsbad.  When we arrived in San Diego Ryan and I once again split up from Joost and Michiel to find different housing arrangements.  Ryan and I stayed with Brian an old friend of Ryan’s from Connecticut and his girlfriend Kristen.  The four of us stayed for three nights in Pacific Beach relaxing and picking up supplies for Mexico.  On the 7th of November we made our way to a KOA campground just 10 miles from the border and on the morning of the 8th after staying up late the night before to register for classes back home we crossed into Tijuana.  We had planned to be in Rosarito that evening where we wanted to stay with a couch-surfer host.  The town was 60 kilometers away for bicycles because we were not allowed on the main highway.  However, we decided to bypassed the authorities through a neighborhood and sneak onto the highway.  This made our journey about 30 Ks shorter.   We made it into Rosarito in good time to meet our host Angelica.  Angelica greeted us with open arms and table full of food for our hungry bellies.  We stayed up late telling stories and drinking cold beer.  The next morning after and amazing breakfast we decided to wait in Rosarito another day for Devon and Jessica to arrive.  When they arrived Angelica was gracious enough to host them as well.  So, we all hopped in a taxi bus and headed for Puerto Nuevo for a delicious lobster dinner at sunset.   The following morning we said farewell to Angie and headed for Ensenada where we stayed in Casa de Bicicleta.  This is a house that is owned by a gentleman who doesn’t live there, he just owns the residence to house touring cyclists as they pass through.  As we were making dinner two more cyclists, Jason and Jules, showed up to spend the night too!  I think we hold the record with 8 tourists and bikes in the house for one night.  After our night in Casa de Bicicleta we had the urge to see the ocean again, so after 60 kilometers we cycled another 20 off the highway to Puente la Bufadora.  Here there was a huge blowhole that shoots water 30 meters in the air when the tide comes in.  We spent the evening enjoying fish tacos and enjoying life! The following morning we cycled south down the highway to a small cheese factory in the middle of the Baja desert.  Here the owner allowed us to camp behind the store and even gave us some delicious fresh cheese to ease our hunger as we set up camp and prepared dinner.  We had an amazing dinner under a gazebo with oil burning torches  and warm weather.  We headed for San Quintin the next day where we planned for a rest day after our first days cycling in the desert and getting used to the heat in the Baja.  After San Quintin we headed into the desert for 6 days and 6 nights.  Our first day, as we were going over a small hill, a milk truck TRIED to pass us.  Of course he could not see anything on the other side, and right next to Ryan and me he slammed head on into a van.   If either vehicle would have swerved it would have been detrimental to my goal of reaching Cabo San Lucas.  After the accident our first  few days in the desert were grueling with strong headwinds, steep grades and insane temperatures.  In the desert the sun rises at about 6 and sets around 5.  This made our sleep schedule very strange as we would go to bed around 5:30 since it was dark and wake up at around 6.  The days went like this until we found our self in a small town called Catavena where man named Sylvester  who let us stay on his property.  Sylvester has no access to clean drinking water, he only has a well that is about 8 feet deep in his front yard and of course no plumbing.  He also has a cemetery on his property and there was a burial the afternoon we were there.  It was so amazing  to see first hand how people live in the desert, thank you so much Sylvester for everything, it was a true privilege to meet you.  We left Sylvester’s for a few more nights in the desert until we crossed into a new time zone in Guerrero Negro. In Guerrero Negro we took a rest day after cycling through the dusty desert to take care of some much needed to-dos, like washing our clothes which were saturated with our sweat and salt.  Rest days are much more luxurious these days because hotels are so cheap in Mexico, the six of us are able to have two nights in a hotel for under $20 a night per person.  After Guerrero Negro we headed back into desert where we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere but off in the distance we could see what looked to be an oasis.  San Ignacio, and small town nestled in the center of the dry and dusty Baja Peninsula, was an unmistakable desert oasis.  We stayed in the oasis for one night only to get what seemed to be the entire Mexican military called on us for having a campfire. After some talking we weren’t in any trouble and we just had to grease the water guy for coming out to make sure our fire was no more.  The next morning we had a beautiful push  with headwinds that forced us to go 6 miles an hour to Santa Rosalia on the Sea of Cortez. We finally got to ride on the other side of the peninsula!  We stayed just outside of the town in a gorgeous hotel on the shoreline.  The owner was nice enough to give us one room for free because he liked our story.  We didn’t leave the following day until 2 because Joost and Michiel had a skype interview on CNN.  We arrived that afternoon in Mulege where we found ourselves at another hotel where three other cyclists were staying.  Siska from Belgium, Brendan from Yukon, and Rob from B.C. had already all been in Mulege since the night before.  Siska and Rob decided to join our group and the next morning the eight of us set out just 20 K’s to a beautiful beach cove.  We swam in the clear, blue water all day and had a delicious meal made with fresh yellow tail that was caught that day by local fisherman.  We awoke with a nice tail wind and set out  down the hilly coast for a campsite just a few kilometers outside Loreto.  Rob decided to separate from us and head into town to catch up with Brendan.  After the short ride into Loreto the next morning we found ourselves in another cheap hotel with 5 other cyclists; Megs and Jules, who I met on the coast of Oregon, Russell and Lorely, and Adian.  A few days before arriving in Loreto I decided that I would not take a rest day in Loreto like the others I have been cycling with, so, I will separate from Joost, Michiel, Ryan, Siska, Devon and Jessica and head off on my own…

Sorry for no pictures, check out facebook, www.flickr.com/cycleforwater , www.thescrimshawproject.com and www.ryanprizio.com

Concrete Wilderness

Riding down the California coast has by far been one of the most exciting parts of my trip, however, being in Souther California surrounded by concrete wilderness has not been the best.  This blog post is a look at my last few days on the bike before reaching the Las Angeles area and the week and a half I have been off my bike.  I have met many amazing people at had some wonderful experiences in LA, Orange County and Las Vegas, but it has made me quite homesick and anxious to get back on the bike and continue the adventure!

After a relaxing night at the Saarloos and Son's Winery in Los Olivos Jessica, Devon, Ryan, Eelco, Joost, Michiel and I had quite the challenge the next day.  Here is a photo of me at the top of San Marcos Pass, it was a 2000 foot climb in just under 20 miles.  

At the bottom of the pass was lovely Santa Barbara, California, and after a day of big climbs and dumping rain Michiel, Joost, Eelco, Ryan and I had planned to stay in a hostel.  However, the hostel wanted $31 dollars per cyclist.  So we opted for the luxurious Orange Tree Inn at only $75 per room. 

First hotel in over 100 days on the road!

After a good night sleep in a dry room we had a hearty meal at a cafe in Santa Barbara and set off for Oxnard.

Due to some GPS "malfunctions" we took a "short-cut" over a pass and around a lake on our way to Oxnard.  All you need to know is that we are all better travel companions because of it.

When we reached the town of Ventura just before Oxnard there was a great bike path that lead us to the city.

I don't know if we would have made it through the day together if we didn't know that Devon and Jessica had a nice hotel room waiting for us.  Two nights in a row in hotels, when it rains it pours, so we sleep inside.

Michiel and I loungin deep in the Marriott. 

Off to Los Angeles!

Thanks Jessica and Devon!!!

On our way through Malibu we met some spear fishermen who had just come in with this shark.

Oh, and apparently they call that a halibut(left).  It's a "big one" for this area.

After a fast, flat day with a mighty tailwind through Malibu and Santa Monica we reached LA in great time.

Here we are at Venice Beach saying goodbye to Eelco.  It was time for him to go back to the Netherlands after a 400+ mile bike tour through California. It was awesome to have met and traveled with you Eelco!

Ryan biking through Beverly Hills to our Warmshowers host in West Hollywood.

Ryan and I separated from Joost and Michiel as they had a different place to stay and a lot of work to do.

Our host(Dillon Morris, moredillon.com) is an amazing DJ.  He took Ryan and I out to the club he plays at on Thursdays for an insane time.

Mann's Chinese Theater just down the street from Dillon and his roommate AJ's apartment.

Thanks so much Dillon and AJ for having us for 3 nights in Hollywood!

Before Ryan and I left West Hollywood for our new host in La Habra we headed up to Bronson Caves to check out where the original Batman television series was  filmed.

On the other side of the caves you could catch a great look at the famous Hollywood sign!

BUSTED! ...again

On our way out of Hollywood my second pair of Crankbrother's pedals broke. :(

Luckily we were near a bike co-op call the Bike Kitchen.  They are a donation funded organization run by volunteers that will happily teach and help you work on your bike.  They provide everything you need including tools and parts for extremely affordable prices.  Unfortunately they didn't have pedals that were going to work for me.

Since I was unable to bike out to La Habra, Dean, our next host, drove out to LA to pick us up at the co-op. Dean was such an amazingly accommodating host, taking us out to meals and to run errands whenever we needed.

Dean you are a true gentlemen, thank you so much for everything.

Dean dropped Ryan and I off in Orange where our next host, Dave Childress, immediately took us out to Laguna, Beach where Crankbrothers is located so I could get my pedal repared.  

Dave has a righteous mustache.

Chillen with Arthur and Trevor at Dave and his wife Maria's house.

David(right) was a cross country running coach for many years at the high school he once went to in Orange.  He took us to lead one of their races through the local park.

Talking on the phone during a varsity race is not the greatest idea, especially during the last quarter mile.

With the boys after the race.

Rest stop about an hour out of Orange.

After some quality time in the LA and Orange County it was time to get out for the weekend.  Joost and Michiel had rented a car due to their busy schedule around Southern California speaking at universities such as Cal-Tech and UCLA.  They decided to hold onto the car for one more weekend so that we could make a trip out to Death Valley and Las Vegas. 

We're a band now. Didn't you know?

Handstand!

On the salt flats in Death Valley!

RUN!

The Sun set as we searched for a place to camp out of view.

We found a flood washout to camp in that was in a beautiful part of the valley.

Michiel and I enjoyed a couple Coronas in the dark and warm valley.

The stars at night in the riverbed.

The next morning before heading to Los Vegas we drove to the highest viewpoint in the valley.  4000 feet above where we camped.

Red Rock Canyon just outside Las Vegas.

We spotted several coyotes in the desert before reaching Vegas.

Thanks to Gigi, my old boss and friend, we had a place to stay when we arrived in Las Vegas.  We stayed with Richard and Jenny of Henderson, Nevada in their 1969 Airstream in front of their home. 

Richard has a vintage Coke machine that dispenses bottled beer. :) 

The backyard of their home is dedicated to the history of the mining culture in the state of Nevada.  It includes a general store, cafe, stream, and mine shaft.

It even includes a jail with a 500 pound barred door that came from the first jail in Las Vegas.

Later that night we hit the strip.

Ryan losing his money.

Winning it back!

I didn't know Woody and Buzz spoke such good Spanish.

Thanks guys!

New York New York!

The following morning we headed out to Lake Meade and the Hoover Dam.

Joost and I at the Dam.

Cheesin.

The new bridge and the power plant.

Ice Cream!

Michiel, Joost, Richard, Ryan and I 

Thanks for everything Richard and Jenny, you feel like family.

Last night dinner preppin.

(Maria, Dave, Trevor, Ryan, Omar, Me)

Last dinner in Orange with our best Orange County friends! 

Dave and Trevor are going to ride out of Orange with us on our first day back on the bikes in over a week.

Yummmm!

Dave and Maria, it has been wonderful becoming such great friends with you during the past week.  Thank you so much for completely opening your home up and entertaining us, it has been so much fun!

Thank you again to everyone who has helped me the past week and a half, you have greatly influenced my stay in this area into a positive one!