This morning the wild winds from last night had died away, and for the
first time we woke to clear skies and no fog in Cambria!

As we packed the vans and readied the bikes for the day's ride, we met
two breast cancer survivors who were staying in our hotel - one a long
term survivor who also rode bikes, and the other a young woman half way
through her treatment. It was wonderful to spend a little time with
them and share our stories and our journey.

Then it was off on the day's ride - no difficult riding instructions
today - just turn left on to PCH1, and 100 miles later turn right into
our hotel! That doesn't convey the absolute magic of the day's ride
though.

A few miles along the way we made our first stop - at the famous Hearst
Castle. We didn't have time to go on a tour, but checked out the view
from the visitor centre. The day was so clear we could see the Castle
high on the ridge from the road, as well as the zebras grazing in the
grounds next to us.

Next stop was also a few miles down the road - a beach where hundreds of
elephant seals sleep during the day. We stopped for more photos, and to
chat to some of the other tourists, some of whom had family members who
had been through breast cancer. The docent on duty was wearing a pink
ribbon visor and fundraises for breast cancer and asked for a photo with
the group.

Back on the road again and half an hour up the road we went through our
first hair pins on Big Sur before stopping at a vista point at Ragged
Point for a group photo and last stop before tackling the big stretch of
twisty road ahead.

The next 50 miles of road was glorious. Perfect temperature, bright
blue sunny skies and shimmering ocean, spectacular cliff edges, twist
after twist after switchback after twist, and the group rode perfectly
at high speed - so quickly that no traffic was backed up behind us until
close to our lunch stop, and the whole group stayed together and in
sight with no traffic cutting in.

Lunch was at Ripplewood in the redwood forest and was a welcome chance
to stretch and share excitement at the road we had just travelled. We
met a group of cyclists riding south from San Francisco to LA to raise
funds for arthritis who were jealous of our Harleys!

Back on the bikes again for one of the most beautiful stretches of Big
Sur - where low shrubs of deep red and purple line the road, and the
views are gorgeous, before running in through Carmel and into Monterey
and our hotel.

Thank you again to the Bay Park Hotel in Monterey who look after us
every year with great hotel rates and love having us visit.

Today's ride takes us ever further north and into the mighty redwood
forests.