Day 17

Morro Bay to Lompoc
75.3 miles
3,116 elevation gain
13.5 mph average speed


Today started in typical fashion-cool temps and overcast skies. Morro Bay through Los Osos, on to San Luis Obispo. Our morning coffee break was in SLO at a little coffee place on Higuera Street. Back on the road towards Pismo Beach, we paid tribute to my mother at a big sign directing us to "Old Edna". A photo honoring my mother can be seen in the pix Alan posted for today. I'm sure my mom appreciates our tribute to her.

The miles flew by on the level terrain, and we stopped for an early afternoon break near Nipomo where we met up with Janet, Jo, Gene, Carol and Janet's great uncle Herman and great aunt Rachel. Herman is about 90years old, and very interested in how our tires were doing. Rachel is a total delight, and it was good to visit with them for a half hour or so. We had lunch in the small town of Guadalupe at a place called "King Falafel". Alan had a garden burger, I had a cheese burger.

Back on the road again with a favorable tailwind soon we were at the base of the major climb of the day-the Harris Grade into Lompoc. This climb was about 3 miles at 6 to 8%, and gained 700 feet or so. We felt great up this climb. The descent down to Lompoc was fun. It started off fairly steeply, with many tight technical switchbacks near the top-way fun. Soon we were at the motel in town where we met up with Janet and Jo again. Today was a laundry day, so we took care of that and then went to dinner at a local Italian restuarant.

The food was good, but the highlight was Mama Catarina-the owner of the restaurant. She was a fat short Italian lady who was singing Louie Prima songs as she walked through thr restaurant, Her English wasn't too good in spite of living in the US for 40 years. But she sure was having fun.