Day 17: Daly City to Half Moon Bay State Beach, 24 miles
I’ve decided the tour is to SF is just too short, so I’m riding further, down Route 1 to Santa Cruz, then over a wild dash over Big Sur, catching the train home in San Luis Obispo.
Today, I catch the BART under the Bay and then up to Daly City, where I’ve starting my exodus from San Francisco in the past. It’s a good call. A short ride to get back into the cycling mode again. More high fog makes for a cool ride. I stop in Pacifica at the Chit Chat Cafe for coffee and breakfast. Then the climb up the San Mateo crest, over to the Devils Slide.
To my delight, CALTRANS has completed the conversion of the old highway into a beautiful bicycle pedestrian trail. Fully paved, better than it was when I rode with cars a few years back, the ride is stunning. Hard to keep the descent to the 15mph speed limit! Wild flowers, crimson ice plants cast color against the gray skies and dark seas. Then the golden sandy beaches of the San Mateo coast, surfers in the waves. The final crest, with a good tailwind, and I descend down into flats around Half Moon Bay. Lots of traffic, a Saturday weekend, but I breeze past in the bike lane.
I roll into the campground, and am surprised to see a large group of cyclists showing up, with gear hauled in by car. Ugh, weekend warriors, down from San Francisco. They’ll be up hours, with coolers (beer), strings of lights, lawn chairs! I must remember to avoid this camp on weekends.
Ah well, I walk on the beach, feel the cool waves on my feet for the second time this trip. Sun breaks through, a welcome sight, blue skies again. The fog is just off coast, and returns as the sun retreats. I look forward to tomorrow, the ride down the Cabrillo Highway to Santa Cruz. A favorite!
Vintage Bicycle Odyssey 
Have loved reading all about your trip. Its something I’d love to do sometime (hopefully before retirement). Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks for following along. I’m glad to find your blog too!
So glad to hear about the bicycle/pedestrian path. That must have been wonderful to ride along! 🙂
I feel the same way about the weekend warriors. In fact, I’m to the point where I plan my rides for the weekdays so that the bike trails are less busy. 🙂
Your voyage has rekindled something in me. I have been biking to and from school almost everyday, and accumulated some miles… A vibration of energy still in my legs.
Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. It has had a good affect on me. You are a great reminder to live more fully, love everyone, and be grateful.
Thanks Shelley. I’m glad to inspire, just as this tour has inspired me!