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