I dragged myself out of the sleeping bag on Dougs floor this morning after hed gone to work. His flat mate Chuck was on the deck chatting to another friend who had called around for tea. I joined them but honestly the glare of the beaming sun off the Pacific Ocean was too much for my early morning eyes to handle. I took the bike down to the shop both Doug & Chuck had suggested separately. They didnt have a spare part similar to the one that had worn down but recommended an alternative shop. I went around and the mechanic took the bike and inspected the crank and bottom bracket. Turned out although it was slightly damaged he reckoned he could salvage it. After reassembling the crank and testing it out he reckoned he was happy that it was perfectly sound. The $21 price tag for the repair was a lot better than the $100+ cost the first guys had indicated it would set me back. I still had the problem of the twenty kilometre gap in my ride between Davenport and Santa Cruz. After spitballing ideas for public transport with Chuck I just decided to cycle back out. Im not a fan of doubling up those distances but given the amazing views and the weather being so good I dot think Id ever mind repeating this particular section of road. With the few delays I hadnt manage to hit LA as planned and I had been invited to join friends in Sacramento for Christmas, a ninety minute bus journey and a two hour car ride from San Jose will take up most of Christmas Eve but will mean Ill be spending the holidays with friendly faces rather than in a faceless hostel or motel somewhere. Ill be back in Santa Cruz later this week to restart the cycle south on Saturday. Speaking of Santa Cruz all the Irish people reading this might remember a band called The Thrills having a few hits with tunes like Big Sur and Santa Cruz. Ive been listening to that album a lot this week as it references so many places Im going to be travelling through over the coming weeks. The lyrics of Santa Cruz which include the words Santa Cruz, youre not that far has been tickling my funny bone this week as I struggle to cover the hundred miles from San Francisco to the surfers paradise. Last year I had the pleasure of spending a few hours at Electric Picnic in the company of some of the extended Cycle Against Suicide family including Padraic, a member of The Thrills. I posted the irony of the lyrics of the track and my own experience on my personal facebook profile and with a little help from my friends he saw the funny side of it and wished me well on my journey. (My choice of words there was a subtle nod to the recent passing of Joe Cocker by the way) Id love to take this opportunity to wish everyone a fantastic Christmas period. I sincerely hope that you are with those people who really matter in your life. If not in person then at least in spirit. My spirit will be firmly at the table in Leitrim Village where my family will be gathering together to celebrate. My body on the other hand will most certainly be celebrating with new friends on the other side of the planet. Love you all and please take the time over the coming days to ask the question How are you? And really listen to the answers you hear back. It might make all the difference in someones life!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:41:53 +0000
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