Letting the Good Times Roll

A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

“The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong – that’s when adventure starts.” - Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, Inc. 

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According to this quote, we had a fairly adventurous bike tour. Not everything went wrong, but we had our fair share of mishaps and bummers.

 

But by now, we've done a bunch of these trips and our ability to let the good times roll was no match for such annoyances. 

 

It's a biker's fact that every route explored is worth a nasty motel, closed market, or train delays. 

 

We biked through towns, farmland and past vineyards. We explored Lake Cachuma and made bike repairs. 

 

We climbed the rough and rugged Refugio Road to El Capitan, then took advantage of car-free State Street in Santa Barbara. 

 

We renewed tired bodies in the Pacific surf. Life is good best on two wheels with a change of clothes and some snacks at the ready.  

 

These are not exotic destinations. But life-by-bike transforms the ordinary windshield view to a heightened experience.   

 

The familiar is becomes new and interesting and wide open. You feel small, and that is exactly how we should feel more often.

 

Here's the story:

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

The station at Lompoc isn’t actually in Lompoc, it’s on the beach. How cool is that?

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Nice to be escaping out of our gloomy motel. Let’s get on with the days ride!

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Rural roads and fancy schmancy wineries ahead.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Stopped by the skin care cop. Spread it, boys, it's the law. SPF 50 or higher.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Carrying on after lunch.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Have arrived: Lake Cachuma campground. 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

An odd site. So much water in a parched and bone-dry land. Let’s rent a boat!

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

There wasn’t much other boat traffic on the lake, so what the hell.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Western Grebes!

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Slim pickin's for dinner at the camp store. They have cold beer, so all is forgiven.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Back on the road. We're going up and over that range back there.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

A sweaty, dusty, hot climb. The granny gear is queen. The guys did a great job. Fully loaded bikes, folks, not easy!

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Over the top and down the other side. We are rewarded with ocean breeze, expansive views and down, down, down to sea level. We'll find out soon enough if our brakes work.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Have arrived: El Capitan State Beach campground. We need a swim. Badly.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Caption provided by The Onion: “Skeptical son makes mental note of hidden candy bars in tent while Dad try's the ‘set it and forget it’ method for dinner”.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Back on the road. Actually, the Obern bike trail.

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Much deserved sit-down for food, rest and spacing out. 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Downtown Santa Barbara. We had every option for our next meal. 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

But we always head to “On the Alley” down at the harbor for fish tacos and draft beer. Don’t forget to order your yacht just across the way. So convenient! 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Back on the road. Elder stopped to tip a keyboard busker, the music deemed worthy. 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

On our way to train station. The beginning of the end. Already scheming about the next trip! 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

Not so fast: Yogurtland was the beneficiary of our 60-minute train delay. 

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A Dougs Life, Family Bike Tour 2021

SB Amtrak station, established 1905. 

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Gallery of all additional photos here.

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Any plans to to explore this summer? I'd love to hear! Your thoughts and opinions are encouraged using the comment form below. The comment password is:  life is good

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Comments (6) -

Ceci Danforth
Ceci Danforth 7/4/2021 12:11:08 PM

Looks like a great trip! Good to see you, Doug. 🙂

doug

OMG, hello Ceci!  Thanks so much for visiting and best wishes from us in the LA foothills!

Elizabeth Gindroz
Elizabeth Gindroz 7/4/2021 10:02:46 PM

The boys had a fantastic time! Thank you for planning these awesome adventures.

doug

Important to get these in before life divides us on to different paths, Elder especially. Hopefully more to come!

Elizabeth O’Keefe
Elizabeth O’Keefe 7/4/2021 10:22:06 PM

Wow!  Elder’s a grown-up already. Good to see you’re still finding new experiences on the trail.

I’m going to pick up Nomadland for sure. Thanks for the review.

doug

Thanks Lyz, he's off to Cal State, the entire extended family is so excited for him.  

Many Aloha's from us Smile

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