Day Eight: Monday, October 12th

WELCOME HOME MR. EVANS!!!

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WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

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Mr. Evans arrived at CES as scheduled, EXACTLY 11:20am, and was greated by the entire student body, staff, superintendant and PTA. It was an incredibly inspiring scene as everyone cheered, Mr. Evans rode through (breaking) the "Wecome Back" banners. Mr. Evans then greeted everyone and thanked everyone that emailed throughout his ride. Mr. Evans brought back souveniers from his trip and raffled them off to the students that participated in answering the questions. The raffle prizes included: the novel Treasure Island, a map of the California Missions, a book about Chumash Indians, a Border's Gift card and a Sports Card

Day Seven: Sunday, October 12th

Pictures:

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Fans Cheering On Mr. Evans in Ventura
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Anacapa Island
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Ventura Mission

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This has been a delightful day. It is only 10:30, and I am already in Ventura. Time to kick back on the beach, blog, read a little, and just enjoy the Southern California sun.Out at sea are Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands. Near the shore are suffers waiting for the ideal wave, and on the boardwalk are folks just taking in the October weather.In just about 24 hours I will be back in Castaic. The ride seemed so much longer when I started, and now it seems to have gone so fast. Amazingly, I keep hearing of additional donations that continue to roll in. I am so proud to be a part of such a dedicated community. Families, businesses, classrooms and others have all contributed to the success of this ride. Yet, even beyond the resources raised, I feel the sense of connection and belonging, as a community, has grown. Thanks again to everyone for their kind words of support, appreciation, and concern. However I must admit that I feel I got far more out of this adventure than I gave. It took far more than some quadriceps pedaling to make this a success, and that collective effort is what Castaic should be proud of. The teamwork and involvement of so many made this ride take off. The ability to work as part of a group is vital, and these skills in life are just as important as test scores. They are what make great character. I feel that we also raised these resources, and I am very proud of that. See you all tomorrow around 11:20.
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Questions:
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Lower Grades:
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1. Name five animals you might see at the beach.
2. How is ocean water different than lake water?
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Upper Grades:
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3. Which of the Channel Islands is not in Santa Barbara County?
4. Speaking of counties, name all of the counties I will have been in by the time I reach Castaic Elementary. Remember I started on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.

**Note** All answers to questions must be emailed by 5pm Today (Sunday)

Day Six: Saturday, October 11th

Pitures:
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Santa Cruz Island on the Horizon
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Montecito Coastline
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What started as a windy night turned warm after the moon rose into the sky last night. I actually got a good night's rest in the tent. When I awoke this morning, the sun was shining and the wind was blowing. Since my ride today is short, my morning was slow and easy. I made breakfast as the sun lit Santa Cruz Island. The waves washed softly onto the sand, and people around the camp were out walking and getting ready to scuba dive. A little after 9 AM I was on the road. About ten miles into the day ,I was in Goleta, and I stopped for a break at Starbuck's. There I charged up my devices, and I had something other than oatmeal. The day has been a casual one. I only have about ten miles to go, and it is only 1 PM. I also contacted a friend in Carpenteria, and I will be able to stay there instead of camping. That is good because I heard from other cyclists that Carpenteria was damp and wet in the morning. I have met many other cyclists, and they are from all over. At camp last night was a man from Ireland who started riding his bike from Boston three months ago. Along the road yesterday I talked with a guy from British Columbia. He had been cycling for 53 days. I will be glad to get home after a week.

Questions:

1. Lower Grades: which is longer, three months or 53 days?

2. Upper Grades: I saw Santa Cruz Island this morning. What tribe of Indians used to live on the islands and along the California Coast?

3. Many 4th graders read a book about one of these Indian girls who is stranded on an island. What is the title of that book by Scott O'dell?

4. Everyone: I mentioned British Columbia. It is a province (like a state) in what country? What is the capital of British Columbia? (it is not the biggest city)Catch you on Monday.

Day Five: Friday, October 10th

Morning - Afternoon:

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Yesterday's east day has paid off. It has been avoid day of riding with wonderful weather - again, gentle terrain, and calm traffic. Leaving Los Osos, the sun was in my face, and it felt good warming the chilly coastal air. The oatmeal from breakfast (homemade with brown sugar and real cream - better than camp oatmeal) gave me slow steady energy. In just a short while I had ridden in to San Luis Obispo and worked my way back out to the ocean at Pismo Beach. As I looked out from the bluffs at the north end of the bay, I could see the sand dunes and soft beaches of the Pismo area. Riding onward, I remembered that sand dunes are formed by wind and roll like waves. This meant a lot of little ups and downs as well as gusts of wind. The road took me inland, and soon I was past the dunes and into the fields of lettuce and other vegetables. The temperature inland was warmer, but not bad. I had one big climb to get into Lompoc. Of course, after Big Sur it was pretty easy. Once I reached Lompoc, I stopped for lunch before continuing over the coastal mountains to get back to the Pacific. I am having one more order of yellowtail, and then I will go across the street to a Farmer's Market to get some things for dinner. Questions coming after I get to camp.

Afternoon - Evening:

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I am sitting next to the lagoon at Refugio State Beach watching the sunset. I just ran into a teacher from Live Oak here camping with her family. I can tell I am close to home. The ride from lunch in Lompoc was good. The wind was very helpful because it was at my back. I could even coast uphill! Although it was another climb, it was slow and gradual, so it was not too difficult. After I reached the top, it was an east ride to the Pacific. I stopped at the Gaviota Rest Area, and then headed another nine miles south to camp. Unfortunately, the camp store no longer exists. Glad I picked up some things at the Farmer's Market in Lompoc.

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Questions:

1. Map skills: What is the name of the air force base by Lompoc?

2. Today I rode 20 miles, then another 12 before a break. Then I rode 31 miles before I stopped in Lompoc for sushi. After sushi I rode to camp. That was 28 miles. How many miles did I ride today?

3. Upper grades: figure out the answer to number two, and then calculate my average speed. When I subtract the time for breaks, I rode for 6.5 hours.

Day Four: Thursday, October 9th

Today was an easy ride. If you check out the gps I am stopped in Los Osos. Today I only rode about 30 miles from San Simeon State Beach to a friend's house in Los Osos. Here I will visit, relax, and do laundry. It is definitely time to do laundry!

Last night as I was sleeping I heard the rustling of little feet and the clank of my cooking pots and camp stove. I shined my light out of the tent, but I saw nothing. In the morning there were footprints all over the picnic table and on the benches. Some of the things I had left out were scattered around. I was visited by bandits during the night, but these bandits were not humans. They were animals. Can you tell me what kind of animals they were. They are called bandits because of the masks on their faces.

Today I had a gentle morning. It was a very damp night, and I needed to take my time getting ready so the tent and other gear could dry out. I also knew that I had a short ride, so I could take my time getting ready and packed. I made breakfast, more oatmeal, and then I cleaned all the dishes and washed up myself. By 9:00 am I was ready to roll.

The ride south was very brief. I stopped to see friends at their shop in Morro Bay, and then I rode the last few miles over to Los Osos. Here I will spend the day and give my legs a break. Tomorrow I will be back on the road with a full day of riding.

Thank you to everyone for all of the emails. It is nice to have the company of your answers to the questions and the "hellos" you are sending. Enjoy the rest of your break.

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**Note*** Pictures & Questions from Wednesday have been posted below.

Questions:

1. Name the animal I asked about in the paragraph above.

2. I am staying in Los Osos. Can anyone tell me what that means?

3. California has a lot of names that are in spanish. Why is that?

4. Back to the wheel: If you calculated the number of rotations my wheel makes in one mile you know it goes around 754.25 times. Now that you know that, can you tell me how many rotations I will make during the whole trip? Assume the trip is 445 miles.

Day Three: Wednesday, October 8th

First Post: 7:45 AM

Picture of Bixby Creek Bridge.

I am about to start day three. Day two was wonderful, but it did end with a surprise. After dinner I rode to Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground. This is a beautiful camp in the redwoods along the Big Sur River. When I arrived the camp was closed. They are doing restoration after the fires from last year. The campground was not damaged, but many of the areas with trails in the hills were. The next campground was miles down the road or back up north. Fortunately, the campground also has a lodge, with cabins, and these were not shut down. In the end I had a comfortable room in the trees with deer wandering around at dusk. Now it is time to hit the road. Being in a room allowed me to get all the equipment charged up. Hopefully it will last the next couple of days.

Morning - Afternoon:

The morning began with a long climb, but then I had a long coast downhill. That is how most of the morning has been. Ups and downs. I did have to stop and wait for about 20 minutes due to some construction. At first I was frustrated losing time, but after all the cars went by I had the road to myself for the next 30 minutes while the next batch of cars waited. This made the whole ride along the coast this morning light with traffic. See, what seems like a set back can really be a gain. Now I am having lunch in Lucia. This is a town with just a store, a restaurant, and a little motel. As I ride south, I will be going by a big fire in the mountains. It has not affected the highway, but I can see the smoke in the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Questions to come soon.

I left Lucia, and the ride ahead proved to be one of the best and the hardest I have ever had. After I finished lunch, I enjoyed the coast for a wonderful stretch. The fire was up in the mountains, but it was not a problem along the road. I did watch the helicopters hovering over the ocean to fill giant buckets of water. The first twelve miles of the afternoon were ideal. The road rolled gently, and the weather was comfortable. I stopped in Gorda to get some Gatorade because the sun was warming up. A rest there for a few before I began a grueling stretch of terrain. The next ten miles drained me. The first few were actually delightful. I coasted down a long hill and rode along the water with the waves crashing up nearby. I had to pay dearly for that first few miles. The next two were up and up and up. In a matter short distance I had to gain 800 feet. Every time I thought the next curve was the top, I was fooled. My legs groaned at each new corner. It was a slow, draining climb, and once I made it I had a descent of 400 feet. Yippee! Of course the opposite of descent is acsent, and I had to pay back with another steep climb. Finally I arrived at Ragged Point. There I rested, ate some food and simply stood up for a while. I still had twenty miles to go. The remaining journey proved to add energy rather than take it away. I rode through rolling pastures with cattle grazing. When I reached the coast I went by the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, and as evening set in, I watched pelicans diving for dinner. I looked along the beach at log after log of bleached driftwood - but wait, the driftwood moved! These were not logs, they were sea elephants, and there were hundreds of them over several miles.I pedalled past Hearst Castle, and I contacted a friend who used to work at Castaic. She met me for dinner, and we visited for a while until it was time for me to go to camp. In camp there were two brothers who were cycling from Canada to Mexico. We visited and shares stories about our trips. Now, I am getting ready for bed, but first I have some questions.

Questions:

Lower grades:

1. I rode past several mountain springs where water flows out of the earth. Can you think of 5 words that rhyme with "spring?"

2. Today I saw sea elephants. What kind of animal is a sea elephant? Tell me about them.

Upper grades:

3. Look at a map and name three towns along Highway One that are between Monterey and Cambria.

4. Each time my wheel goes around I travel 7 feet. How many times does my wheel have to go around to tracelvone mile? You will have to concert a mile into feet.

Everyone:

5. What does "piedras blancas" mean?

6. I passed Hearst Castle today. It was built by William Randolph Hearst.What businesses did he own that made him rich? His father George started the family fortune with the Anaconda and the Comstock. What were these?William's mother, Phoebe, was a founding member of a very important organization. We have one at our school. What is the name of this organization?

Day Two: Tuesday, October 7th

Pictures:

Garapata State Park,

Campsite,

Fisherman's Warf,

Artichoke

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Tuesday Morning - Afternoon:

Time for lunch.

I am on the north end of Monterey at Starbuck's having a sandwich and some juice. I am also charging my equipment. Once I leave Monterey, the signals may be weak.

This morning I got up and had my oatmeal. I broke down the campsite and packed the gear. The riding began. The 40 miles to Monterey were not too difficult, but I added some extra hills with a bad turn. Once I was back on track all was good. Along the way I met some other cyclists, and we rode together for a few miles. Now it is time to relax for a while. While the batteries charge, I will give my legs a break and answer emails. There are still over 30 miles to go, and those miles will be a lot of ups and downs. The views will be beautiful, but I will have to work for them. I will try to post some questions later, but while I am along the Big Sur coast it may be hard to communicate. I'll write more as soon as I can.

Tuesday Evening:

I thought the ride from Monterey to Big Sur would be very difficult. However, once I was over the hill between Monterey and Carmel, the next 26 miles went along well. Of course it was not easy. I had to climb over big mountains, and I had to face some strong winds. After a long climb up a mountain I got to coast downhill for over a mile. This was not too easy though. The strong winds made me have to watch my balance and keep my speed down. Once I reached the bottom I had to start climbing again, and now the strong wind was in my face. The scenery along this stretch gives me good energy to face the challenges. The highway hugs cliffs where I can see secret coves with waves crashing against the rocky shore. Other views let me watch the cows graze in pastures that flow out to the ocean. It is very relaxing to watch acres of kelp floating on the waves as the ocean rocks it up and down. These views really made the rough ride more soothing.

Now, I am enjoying dinner on the banks of the Big Sur River before I ride the last few miles to camp.

Questions:

Lower Grades:

#1) Today my ride took me up 100 feet, then 250 feet. Later I climbed 1000 feet and then another 150 feet. How many feet did I climb?

#2) Today I rode by a heron. What kind of animal is a heron?

Upper Grades:

#3) We discovered my wheel has a circumference of almost 84 inches. How many feet do I travel every time my wheel goes around once?

#4) I pedaled past the mission where Father Juniperro Serra is buried. What mission is that?

#5) Who was Serra?

Everyone:

#6) Today I passed Point Lobos. Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by the forest and secret coves. He wrote a famous novel from these ideas. What is the title of the novel?

Day One Monday Oct. 6, 2008

It has been a good day. I may not have said that if you asked me at 1:00 PM. The morning was very challenging. There were lots of hills, and many of them were steep. The weather was good for riding. Foggy and cool as well as bursts of sunshine. The views of the rocky coast and crashing waves helped keep me pedaling. The area between San Francisco and Santa Cruz is very empty. Even though I was only an hour from a major city, the coast is sparsely populated. There were very few stores or gas stations, and there were a lot of beaches, but they were only for picnics. They had no snack bars or even campgrounds. Finally I made it to Santa Cruz. Now I am having dinner, charging my gps and phone, and enjoying sitting still. I have a few more miles to ride to the campground - Brighton Beach. I think I will sleep well tonight. Thanks for all the emails.

There have been lots of great answers to my questions. Are you ready for more?
Lower grades
1. For a snack I had orange juice (220 calories), fig newtons (330 calories), and a banana (125 calories). How many calories did I eat at snack?
2. San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay. Which of these cities have the same number of syllables?

Upper Grades
3. My wheel has a diameter of 27 inches. What is the circumference of my wheel?
4. I rode 80 miles to Santa Cruz. If I subtract my breaks from my hours on the road, I was actually pedaling for 6.5 hours. What was my average speed to the nearest tenth?

Everyone - including parents
5. There is a photo from Pescadero State Beach. What does the word pescadero mean?
6. If you attended U C Santa Cruz, what would your school mascot be?
7. I had breakfast at Mel's Diner. What popular movie was filmed here?
It then became a popular telvision show with a different name.

AS THE SUN GOES DOWN:

I pulled into camp at Brighton State Beach about 7 PM. My first task was to set up camp, so I unloaded my gear, set up my tent, and got cleaned up. While I was doing those things, several others cyclists said hello. There were a total of 6 or 7. One talked with me about his ride. He started in Vancouver Canada. He has been riding since the first of September, and he is going all the to the border of Mexico. I think there are a few guys in his group. After talking and cleaning up, I sat down to plan the ride for Tuesday. The stove was warming some water for hot chocolate, and I was eating my leftover tuna melt and soggy fries from dinner. They actually tasted very good under the half moon and starlight. I planned my next day, finished my cocoa, and cleaned up. Now I will send off this latest blog and try to rest up for tomorrow.

The BIG RIDE begins at Golden Gate Bridge!

Monday morning at Golden Gate Bridge. I got an early start and with all your emails of encouragement, I was energized for a GREAT ride!

(See additional pictures posted to the "Send Off Rally" Post from Friday.)

This is a picture of Pescadero State Beach.

Sunday Morning in San Francisco

Here are some great shots from my walk along the marina in San Francisco. The weather is great. After a little rain on the drive yesterday, the skies are clear and beautiful. The sun is shining, and it is a warm Sunday morning. I hope this weather stays with me all the way down the coast.

I want to give a big thanks to everyone who has sent their good wishes and thoughts to me. The ride seems so much more achievable having all those emails and comments. Also, thanks to those who have emailed answers. There have been great answers to the questions, and I enjoy hearing from you. Hope to get more along the road.

Today is a day to relax and enjoy San Francisco. I hope to do a lot of walking around the city. Of course tonight I will have to get all of my gear together and be ready to roll first thing tomorrow morning. Looking forward to talking to all of you during the week.

Questions:

1. Of course the picture of the bridge is easy to recognize. What is the name of the island in the other picture?

2. How many feet long is the Golden Gate Bridge?

3. When was the Golden Gate Bridge opened? and how old is it now?

4. Here is a question for the upper grades. I know the 5th graders just finished a story about earthquakes, so you can try this one, but I am sure there are some other grades who can do this as well:
a. What year was the great San Francisco Earthquake?
b. I am staying in the Marina District. This area was originally all swamps until they filled it in with dirt and made a neighborhood. During an earthquake, this land here moves like l liquid. What is the scientific term for earth when it moves like a liquid?

Mr. Evans' Send Off Rally at CES

What a Rally! Mr. Evans rode in on his bike and took a couple of warm up laps as the students cheered and held up their hand made signs and banners. Banners lined the fence and balloons flew in the breeze as Mr. Evans announced that he has already raised over $7000 in donations, in addition to the trees being donated by Valley Crest! Then the teachers presented Mr. Evans with an early "Boss' Day Present" - it was a certificate of appreciation and a donation of over $400 from the awesome CES Teachers and Staff. We have a truly AMAZING school. I hope all the students realize just how lucky they are.

Special thanks to Ellen Cunningham, the PTA and all of the volunteers that helped to make this event so special.

Make sure to check in everyday, starting on Monday, to see "Where is Mr. Evans?" on the GPS Tracking system.

Santa Barbara Zoo or Bust

Well, the vote came in, and I was off. The results of your votes on the blog sent me pedaling for the Santa Barbara Zoo. From my house to the zoo is about 95 miles, but since I didn't have anyone to meet me and take me home, I had to change plans. I ride a lot, but I could not do 95 miles each way in one day. Instead I started in Ventura, and from there I rode up the coast to the zoo in Santa Barbara.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was not foggy like my last ride. I had spectacular weather. There was no wind to slow me down.

Along the way I saw a scout troop from Castaic working on their merit badge for surfing, so I stopped and talked to some of those boys. It was fun to get off of my bike and relax on the beach for a few minutes. I could not stay too long, because I was just starting my ride, and there were many miles to go before I reached Santa Barbara, and I had to ride back to Ventura.

Once I reached Santa Barbara I took a photo of myself in front of the zoo, and then I rode off to get some lunch. I needed more energy before I started the return journey. I have a favorite beach shack on the sand by Santa Barbara City College, so I sat and had a quesadilla and an ice tea before heading south.

By 2:15 I was back in Ventura. It was a great training ride, and I had a gorgeous day riding along the coast of California. I am looking forward to all of the great scenery as I ride all the way from San Francisco.

Questions: I have a lot of questions this time. Try to answer them, and send your response to me at cesblogger@sbcglobal.net

#1 for Kindergartners and 1st Graders: I rode past the beach, and I saw a lot of sand. Please email me at least five words that rhyme with the word sand.

#2 for upper grades: I started my ride in Ventura and I finished in Santa Barbara. What landmark does each of these cities have? Hint: 4th graders study these.

#3 - Grammar Lesson: Can you rewrite the paragraph from above so that there are only three sentences instead of five?

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was not foggy like my last ride. I had spectacular weather. There was no wind to slow me down.

#4 - Time: My ride started at 9:15 AM. I ended my ride at 2:15 PM. During the ride I stopped to take a break for 20 minutes, to take my picture at the zoo for 15 minutes, to eat lunch for 40 minutes, and I took another break on the ride home for 15. How long was I actually riding my bike during that time?

#5 - Geography: Look on a map and find two towns between Santa Barbara and Ventura

Let's see who can answer some or all of these questions. Send me your answers at cesblogger@sbcglobal.net

Catch you next time.

Ups and Downs of Cycling

When you see the "**" next to a sentence, that means there will be a question. Check below, and then submit your answer by clicking on my email address. Then I will know who answered and when they sent in their answer. You can also click on the email to send any comments you may have.

My training ride this weekend was not nearly as long as my last few, but it was still a lot of work. This weekend I ahd to do training for hills. The ride along California's coastline in beautiful, and it is spectacular, but there are many mountains and the ride goes up and down more than a Six Flags rollercoaster. That means I need to have strong legs to move me, my bike, and my gear up hills and along coast.

This weekend I spent many hours going up and then down, then up, then down, and on and on. I started by climbing from the floor of the San Fernando Valley to Mulholland Drive.** This road winds along the top of the Santa Monica Mountains, and it divides the San Fernando Valley from Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles.

As I rode along the crest of the mountains the foggy weather kept me cool, but it also made it difficult to see. My arms had drips of water, but it was not raining. I pedaled along Mulholland for a few miles, and then I turned onto Woodrow Wilson Dr.** The fog was so thick that my wheels were damp, and the brakes on my bike did not work very well.** Woodrow Wilson Dr. took me downhill, and then I climbed back up to Lake Hollywood before I coasted down to Warner Brothers' Studios.

I cruised along past Walt Disney** Studios and through Griffith Park past Travel Town, around the Los Angeles Zoo, and I went by the Gene Autry Museum.** About 90 minutes into my ride I reached the Alcove Cafe where I had some breakfast and relaxed for a while. I knew I had to do some more climbing, so I did not eat very much. I did not want to upset my stomach, but I needed some energy, so I had a bite and let my legs relax before starting the next ascent.**

The next hill led me past the old mansions of Hollywood Stars and up to a place where you can see the stars. The foggy photo of my bike in front of this building is one of the questions below. Can you answer it?

The new challenge I took on the way down was to go on the dirt tracks. This was a little scary and it took a lot of energy for going downhill. I had to go slowly because there were children, dogs, and people walking on the trails. I had to keep up my speed so I didn't get stuck in the sand. Even though I was going down a hill, it was still very tiring.

Once I got back to the pavement I was able to ride on through Hollywood, past the Capitol Records building (see the photo and the question below). Then there was one more climb up and over the Cahuenga Pass before I got back home.

Questions: If you have an answer or several answers to submit please send your responses to cesblogger@sbcglobal.net I also welcome any of your comments.

#1. Who was William Mulholland? Why was he an important part of California history - especially Los Angeles?

#2. Who was Walt Disney? Why was he an important part of California history - especially Los Angeles?

#3. Who was Gene Autry? Why was he an important part of California history - especially Los Angeles?

#4. Who was Woodrow Wilson? He was not part of California history. For what is he famous?

#5. I used the word "ascent" in my blog. Give me a synonym for the word ascent.

#6. Can you name the building behind my bike in the foggy photograph?

#7. I mentioned the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, and there is a photo of it above. It was built in 1954, and it was the first circular office building. Many people say it is supposed to look like a stack of LPs. What is an LP? and what do the letters stand for?

I am sorry to report that inappropriate comments were being posted on my blog. I have had to remove the comments section - but I loved the comments from most of you. Some non-CES bloggers posted unacceptable comments.

If you wish to answer my questions, please catch the link to my email, and I will look for comments and answers to questions there. You can reach me at cesblogger@sbcglobal.net


Thank You,

Mr. Evans

Birthday Ride

Last Sunday was another birthday, and another training ride. Once again I headed out toward the ocean. Like the week before, I worked my way out to Ventura from Studio City. This time I decided to take the more direct route.

The ladies at the Old Susana Cafe are getting to know me well. I stopped there again for breakfast and a rest. This week the climb over the Santa Susana Pass was even easier. The practice is paying off. The other reason it was easier is because I started my ride earlier, and the weather was not nearly as hot.

From the cafe I worked my way west across Simi Valley, then through Moorpark, and out along the old Highway 118 through beautiful farmland. The ocean air kept me cool, and the smell of lemon blossoms was refreshing. The ride was not easy, and as I got closer to the ocean, the cool air turned into a wind that slowed me down, but it did keep me from getting too hot.

I arrived in Ventura at 11:30. A Razzmatazz at Jamba Juice put some energy back in my body, and I relaxed in the cool gray fogginess of Ventura. In total I had ridden my bike for 4 1/2 hours and covered about 62 miles.

Check Out the Route

View Route Map

Hey Cubs!

I am getting geared up for the big ride from San Francisco to Castaic. Google maps helped me with my route, and you can click on the link above (View Larger Map) to see the map of my trip. This will be a fun ride where I can work toward our goals at CES - being physically fit and going green. You can be sure I will get a lot of exercise, and I will not be using any gas as I go from the Golden Gate to the Teal Casey Cub. Of course I will be using some propane to cook my dinner and breakfast along the way, but no gasoline for my bike.

I will ride across the Golden Gate

Bridge and end up at our own home of Casey Cub. The total ride will be 445 miles. Google maps tells me the time will be 9 hours and 7 minutes, but they don't know I am going at my own pace. If I am going to be riding for eight days, can anyone tell me how many miles per day I will have to average? Round it to the nearest mile. If you know the answer, sendit in by clicking on the "Comments" section below.

I have also included pictures of some of the sites I will be pedaling past. How many can you and your family name? Send in your answers via the "Comments" link.

On the Road Again

Well, that breakfast last week was so tasty, I decided to return to the Old Susana Cafe. This time breakfast was just the beginning of the ride. Many miles were to come after my meal.

After the heat from last week, I decided to start earlier. At 7:00 AM I left home and started my way across the San Fernando Valley. The climb over the Santa Susana pass was easier this time with cooler weather, however my trailer was still loaded with gear. This time I had the Arrowhead water bottles as well as my tent and sleeping pad - no Dunn Edwards primer on this trip. By 9:15 I was over the pass and relaxing at the cafe.

A few minutes later Ms. Ahlman, the counselor at Castaic Middle School, rolled up on her bike. She was going to join me on the remainder of the trip. Over many summers Ms. Ahlman and I have taken multiple bike tours, and we have worked our way from Ketchikan Alaska to Los Angeles. This required a lot of pedaling, many rides on ferries amongst the islands of British Columbia and southern Alaska, and time sitting on the side of the road repairing flats.

Today's ride was out to Ventura where we would take in a view of the Channel Islands. We finished our breakfast and started rolling across Simi Valley. the sun already was gaining intensity, and we wanted to reach the cool of the coast as soon as possible. However, luck was against us, and we had not yet reached the west side of Simi Valley when the first flat tire stopped our progress. Fortunately we were next to a gas station, and we were able to use their compressor to fill Ms. Ahlman's tire. After about thirty minutes our wheels were rolling again - yet within a matter of minutes the tire was again flat. At this time we called for help. A friend drove up with another bike, and we switched over her gear and took off toward the coast.

If you went on the first grade field trip last year or the year before, you know where we rode. Our path took us right by Underwood Family Farms where our first graders go to learn about farming and harvest vegetables. From there we coast down the Santa Rosa Valley and into Camarillo. It wasn't all coasting. What looks flat in a car never is on a bicycle. We rolled into Camarillo searching for a coastal breeze and a bite to eat. The breakfast was long gone, and we both were in need of energy. A rest at Blimpies with a turkey sub and some Gatorade refreshed us, and we clipped our shoes into our pedals and rolled across Camarillo.

Oxnard came next with fields full of crops. Strawberries were done for the season, but lemon groves and other vegetable fields filled the air with a refreshing fragrance. the coastal breeze was not blowing, and we chugged along appreciating the shade from the eucalyptus trees lining the rural roads between Ventura and Oxnard.

Finally, about 3:30 we pulled onto Seaward Avenue. There we found the ocean air and cool breeze we had been seeking. Friends were waiting to take us home - not riding back to Los Angeles today. We freshened up and washed the road dirt off of our faces before we sat down to a delicious burger.

Overall I was on the road for 8 and 1/2 hours and about 70 miles. It was a good training ride, and I am feeling geared up for the trek from San Francisco to Castaic. Can you figure out my average speed for the trip? Assume I was actually pedaling for seven of the hours. What was my rate of speed? Can you name any missions that I was close to on this trip? Does anyone know the names of the islands off the coast of Ventura? Last question: What is the title of the book about a girl who lives on the Channel Islands when California is just being discovered and settled? If you have any answers to these questions, email your answers to me at cesblogger@sbcglobal.net

2nd Training Ride Completed

In an effort to practice my hill climbing skills I loaded my bike, attached my trailer, and headed off for a ride from Universal Studios to Simi Valley. All of my camping gear was not yet ready to go into the trailer so I added weight by setting two 1 gallon Arrowhead bottles of water, and a gallon of Dunn Edwards Unicote Primer in the trailer. This way it was just like having my gear for the real ride.

The weather was warm and got warmer, and as I ascended the Old Santa Susana Pass Road, I had to be sure to take in lots of water. Very little shade was available to shelter me from the rising temperatures, but before 10 AM I crested over the pass and coasted down to the Old Susana Cafe.

Once I reached the cafe I had an enormous breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon. YUM!! The good thing about all this exercise is that I can eat whatever I want. Then after breakfast I had to ride home the 25 miles and use all of the energy I consumed at breakfast.

So, with a full tummy, I started the climb back up the hill. The food gave me lots of energy, and I was able to pedal my bike, my body, and my trailer back up and over the pass. The sun struck me even harder on the ride home, and even with the downhill slope I was feeling the challenge. I continued to drink lots of water and keep my energy level in a safe zone. Whenever exercising it is important not to overdo it - that can make you sick.

I started my ride at 7:30 AM and finished at 12:45 PM. I took 45 minutes for breakfast. Can anyone figure out how long I was actually riding my bike?

First Training Ride Completed

I've completed my first training ride to Carpinteria! No, I did not wear this Halloween Costume!

PTA Board Meeting Announcement

At the August 19, 2008 CES PTA Board Meeting, Mr. Evans' announced that he will be taking a bike ride from CES ... all the way to San Francisco to raise money for the PTA's special project for 2008-2009.

The bike ride for CES will be officially announced at the first Cub Rally on September 5, 2008 and more details will be provided.