2500

The hill into Jompoc can only be rivaled by the hill out of Jompoc.  I hate hills.  It was one of those windy mountain ones that are even scarier going down because my brakes only do such a good job slowing down me and my caboose.  But I made it.  On the way out I met a couple of touring kids from San Francisco.  I haven't seen a fellow rider in a couple days so it lifted my soul just to see some guys on two wheels.  We quickly shared our stories and wen't our separate ways.  Little did I know that I was about to be going the opposite way of 2,500 more touring riders from San Francisco.  Apparently there is this thing called Life Cycle for aids in which after raising entrance money you can be apart of an assisted tour from San Francisco to LA to help raise money for aids research.  And apparently they started on June 5th, the same day that I started.  So to my amazement rider after rider rode by me and I found myself waving until my hand started hurting.  There were some absolute characters riding also.  Some of the more flamboyant persuasion pretty much looked like what Elton John would look like if he decided to do a 500 mile bike tour.  It was good.

      74 miles later I pulled into Morro bay (the hike and bike camp site is only 5$!) and got found my camp site.  I was greeted by this animal that must have been half Rottweiler half radioactive brown bear. This dog was giant.  He gave me two short barks and then started leaning on my leg, half knocking me over, demanding my affection.  His owners Erick and Sally were near by and took their dog Alvin back and we ended up having a good conversation while the sun went down.  They gave me some coffee and some beer and I sat at their site and we just shared campings stories.  It turns out that they have a house on the coast of Washington that I'll probably be passing and they may be there about the time I will.  It would be cool to see them again.

  

     I'm writing from a independent roaster/coffee house called the Top Dog Cafe while drinking a proper french press El Salvador.  Jonathan the barista is doing a good job managing the steady flow of customers coming to this bumping spot in down town Morro Bay.  I better leave soon or I'm going to experience the prevailing winds later this afternoon.  Hopefully I'll get somewhere around Cambria today and be able to put my feet up and rest a little.