Santa Margarita Lake County Park

I almost forgot just how quite and dark things can be when away from the city. I have found a great little county park, just outside Santa Luis Obispo, CA. I had planned to just drive up and drop off the RV at the Elks Club. They have just completed a new storage area for members and the price is great. The club is directly on the 101 freeway, like almost every other one out here, but was told to head up just 15 miles north to a great little county park. She was right! Thanks, Elizabeth. Getting some riding in and doing some workouts. I am going to stay till the weekend. Because the price is right. FREE! No crowds. The weather is great!

Stealth Camping!

I have been tagged by the local police! I am moving, Friday. Santa Barbara is the toughest place to stealth camp. So many homeless living in RV's they really try to keep you moving on down the road. They have won the battle with me.

Planes, Trains, Buses, Camper and a Tow

Taking a train to LA, then a bus to LAX for a flight to Vegas to pickup the truck camper today. The weather turned on me, cold and windy. The low was 55 last night. Without a heater it gets cold. Thought the timing would be good to pick up the camper and bring it back to Santa Barbara for more prep work.Spent Sunday helping out with Arlington Cemetery West. These guys put out an equal amount of crosses to deaths our troops have experienced in Afghanistan. On this Sunday, 1318...incredible. The process is very precise. Very soloum. Over 35 volunteers. They use to do this for Iraq.
with over 3000 deaths it was a huge undertaking, every Sunday. My job was to unload trailer full of crosses and take them down to the beach. Phillip, in the orange, is one of the first guy's I met here.

He owns a parking area 1 block off the beach and is now letting me stay in his lot. Not for free, but close. The artichoke did the trick. The train ride down the coast this morning was beautiful.

A very smooth transition to LAS, however the initial shakedown cruise in the camper has not been very good. I blew a tire after 50 miles. Road service 2 hours later. I know how to change the tires on this now. Then 1 hour later, had to be towed 50 miles because the fuel pump was going out. Thanks Progressive for selling me the emergency road hazard insurance. Spent the night in a small hole in the earth. Arriving after 10 pm. This morning I was able to milk the camper another 60 miles to Barstow, CA. where I am waiting on a new fuel pump. At least I am safe after a very rough night on the road! Better here then on the Baja!

Santa Barbara and Camping

Arrived yesterday and working on finding a campsite. Much tougher going then in Santa Fe. Alot of homeless and people living in really run down rv's. As you can see from this picture, I am just one of many. I was told about this spot on the railroad tracks. The trains are not to often. However, the coach is parked 10 feet from the track. When it comes by at around 50mph, you know it. But only 2 blocks from the pier and harbor.

Found a great trail and hiked it this morning. 2.5 hours. Many downhill bikers, with skills, I do not posess.

Farmers Market is incredible. Bought an artichoke and a bunch of aspragus for dinner tonight. The weather is 68 and sunny. Rolling down to the beach for reading and sun. Maybe score some fresh fish as the charter boats come in.

Where did the summer go!!

It was a great summer in Santa Fe/Taos, NM. The weather was great and made some good friends! One of the best cities I have every visited! Not to big and or to small. I tried 45 different restrauants. My goal was never to go to the same place twice. When the green chillis came in, what a treat. The veggie omelets topped with green sauce is the best. I did not do a lot of riding, but I did improve upon my grilling skills. Grilled artichokes are the best! I worked for a great guy for a couple of weeks. Del runs a Pak Mail store in Santa Fe. A chance meeting in the Trader Joe's parking lot. The jokes were non stop. He let me do a couple of long distance runs, delivering furniture on the west coast, along with a trip down to Texas. Thanks Del.

Currently in Las Vegas, NV. Camped out behind the Green Valley Ranch Resort. They have a very nice pool. The sports bar offers cheaper drinks then the Elks. My friend Walt stayed for a couple of days with me. We had a great time during Interbike and attended Cross Vegas.

Which is a cycle cross race. Not the other Cross event. Scored some VIP tickets. Met and had my picture taken with my bike idol, “Ned Overend “ from Durango, CO.

Only 1 small crash during my stay here, it was on the first day. This is some tough riding, where you really need skills.

Working on my a camper I purchased a couple of weeks ago. My plans are to leave around the middle of November for the drive down the Baja coast then a ferry trip to Mexico. Continuing on to Costa Rica for the rest of the winter. If anyone wants to ride part of the trip, let me know.

I plan on traveling light in case things go really bad on the truck/camper. Salvage what I can and ride buses the rest of the way. My Spanish should get better or I will end up walking some of the trip. I am going to keep my blog going and updating much more then the last few months. Stay Brown!

This post is a couple of days late. I spent the last day in Hisperia, CA. getting service work. I had put this stuff off long enough. Finally found a small garage with a very keen mechanic. All service work done. Including the dreaded internal transmission filter. The guy was great. I spent less then I had expected and had more work done. Brown does have it’s privilages!

Should get to Santa Barbara today.