On the road to Monterey

It's getting real now. Dylan, my son, Tom his best friend, Emily my niece and 'the wife' are all on board for the first ever Pedal Project annual ride. The inaugural ride, in mid May,  will be from Santa Barbara to Monterey California on Hwy 1.
I have been all over the coastal Hwy from Washington down through Oregon into northern California down to San Diego many times. A bad day full of torrential down pours and hammering wind is still a day on the west coast of the US...beautiful. Many times I have actually been with my family camping on the beach in Oregon, off Hwy 1, and it was gusty, cold and perfectly refreshing. You just get used to it and enjoy the being there.
On the other hand this is not the recipe for a great cycling trip of bonding and camaraderie.  Being pelted by sideways rain sizzling into your face like an icy cold bullet can really dampen the spirit of even the best riders. Then with the wind pushing back against each pedal stroke it will add hours to what would have been only minutes of your ride or so it seems.  Even your death defying will, sags in this elemental onslaught which is aimed directly at YOU!
I look forward to this test of friendship and strength between us, those hardy few. But it is really about seeing some of the most awesome scenery on the planet. Big Sur for instance should be a destination in and of itself with to much to even write about, I don't know where to start.  Santa Barbara is idealistic in her blend of ancient and modern influences simultaneously. And you don't wont to miss Monterey at all. We will spend at least 1 day just taking in the sights, both natural and man made,  on our journey into this shared experience.

But still that is a long way off, 8 months. Between now and then is the real work in order to enable me to keep up with the 'bucks' and their fresh young legs. Right now I'm watching the Worlds road race championship to get an added push to my training mindset and I'll watch every thing else I can in the next 8 months to keep me juiced in the depth of my soul.
This is not a race or a competition of any kind. It's a friendly ride with those who want to share something out of the ordinary in this day and age.But we do have time pressure and miles to achieve in order to to spend time on the beach with a good California wine or in the forested Big Sur communing with nature.
Whatever happens it will be great and 'we will suck the life out of it, even to the marrow', to paraphrase an author who understood the human condition and soul lust for giving and getting the most out of  life.
With all this said and so much more I could say I'll leave you with this:  If I pass you on the road, stop at Peets because your buying!