Another day to wear out the phrase “beautiful morning”! We started our ride early again, which is the best idea ever. Since my friend and cycling buddy has an injured calf and today an upset stomach, we opted for the coastal route, which is not just scenic but the least mountainous ride you can get around here.
We headed toward Hwy 1 via West Cliff. I just want to take a moment to thank the Tour of California for our newly paved roads! And a big shout out to 6:30 am for providing us with little to no motor traffic.
“I brake for snails”
There is a spot on the highway, sort of near Wilder ranch, a shady bit, which at certain hours of the day becomes a snail thoroughfare. You cannot possibly avoid them all. I did not actually brake for any. Sorry little snail!
Near miss in the sky
We saw a falcon dive-bombing a duck. That was pretty cool to watch, but as much as I enjoy falcons, I was rooting for the duck, which got away.
Why did the Coyote cross the road?
Like right in front of us? We don’t know, but there it went, trot trot trot!
Unintended protein intake
A total of 6 little gnats met their end in my throat. Cough.
Proof of fast
The thing I like about the speed trap on the descent approaching Davenport is the sensor that tells you how fast you are going. I clocked 29 MPH on the downhill.
After the loop-de-loop around where the church is, we headed up Swanton road and were greeted by cows spotting the hillsides amidst sunshine and fingers of fog in the distance. After a few turns and a short game of up-the hill down-the-hill, my friend stopped and turned around to head back. She wasn’t feeling better, so the climb to the top of Swanton was not going to be part of our riding repertoire today. Well, she gets a medal for riding through pain and discomfort! Even with her physical setbacks I was working hard to keep up with her, she is that strong. (and on the way back, she just smoked me. Good job!) 
Back on the highway, we headed north again for five minutes just for symmetry of timing. Our reward came on the descent by Scott Creek- A bank of fog piercing the sunshine through the canyon. (Wait, what? Can fog really pierce sunshine? I’ve decided it can.) With the fog came a welcome cool breeze and the sound of the waves joined the wind in our ears as we hit the climb out on the other side. Our turnaround was the plateau just beyond, and our next reward was the straight and fast descent back down. A big, fat, bug (second of the day actually) smacked right into the side of my nose. Guh! My head’s not that big! (remember the Seinfeld where Elaine becomes paranoid about the size of her head, and then a pigeon smacks into her?)
I recover and wave to a half clad dude smearing sunblock on his face. I see him mouth “Good Morning” as I fly past.
Our return is smooth and uneventful, which is just what you want when riding bikes on the highway. Approaching Davenport from the north now, the speed sensor is on the flat part. 19 MPH. I am fine with that! We see other cyclists just starting out on the other side of the road, and greet them with that knowing cyclist head-nod. We are all two-wheeled brethren.
