Doug: As I recall, Amtrak's California coast line allows roll ins. Wish that were the case on the trains between Chicago and Minneapolis.
On Jul 30, 11:44 am, doug peterson <[email protected]> wrote: > Manny: > > On your return via Amtrak, did you have to box up your bike for the > train? What about the bus portion? > > dougP > > On Jul 30, 7:36 am, JimD <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Another excellent Manny adventure! > > > Thanks for the photos and report. > > > I gotta ask, > > how much weight did you gain on this trip? > > > The meal and food place photos made me hungry. > > > Cheers, > > JimD > > > On Jul 30, 2010, at 12:04 AM, manueljohnacosta wrote: > > > > Just got back from a tour. Many things learned, lots of things seen, > > > reflected on the important things. > > > My second long bike tour, I felt much better about this one than last > > > years, more because it was causal, nothing really planned out just > > > kinda going. Didn't really train for this tour but I wasn't planning > > > to go fast anyway. > > > > First day I took the train to Santa Barbara to meet with my buddy Duy. > > > As I get off the train I meet one of many bike tourers going in the > > > same direction. After some friendly nods, we take a short ride down to > > > Carpinteria State beach and got dinner ready. That night we got to > > > meet a ton of people touring down the coast. We met a father and son > > > on a tandem on a quick overnighter, a retired guy riding his way up > > > north, a young guy riding solo from seattle who went by Ezra and we > > > also caught up with the traveler from the train who went by Jean- > > > Pierre, who was riding from Toronto down to Mexico. We all eat our > > > meals, share our stories and tried sleeping with the amtrak roaring > > > through at 1am in the morning. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624607224862/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > The second day we said our good byes, wished each other a safe journey > > > and rode down to Leo Carrillo. When we get there we were surprised to > > > see Ezra at the campsite before us, we greeted one another and hanged > > > out on the beach, played some frisbee, and got washed up by the waves. > > > Ezra rode with Jean-Pierre, but Jean-Pierre decided to ride further > > > down to LA. As we finished our meal we are greeted by two buddies > > > riding super late into the campsite. These guys brought the party; one > > > iron skillet, a huge dutch oven and a ton a of beer. We offered our > > > fire and they cooked and shared some grade A lamb. We slept that nice > > > with good food in a belly and great people to talk to. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624607372192/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > The third day we ride into LA early, since my buddy Duy hasn't ridden > > > in a bit we decided to take really slow so we try to go early. Along > > > the way we pass Ezra and Ezra passes us it becomes kinda like a yo-yo > > > all the way till we reach Vince Beach. Along the way I learn that Ezra > > > just finished college with an Architect Major and is moving to Oakland > > > to find a job. We promise to go riding next time we're both in the > > > East Bay. Riding through L.A. Duy would always tell me that the > > > drivers are crazy and cyclist risk their lives riding on the streets. > > > I always figured that Duy was a big complainer, so I took the lead. As > > > I was telling him that riding in L.A. wasn't so bad a guy gets out of > > > his car and almost doors me. I guess I was wrong. We finish the day at > > > Duy's apartment drinking milk teas poolside and eating at the famous > > > Gloria's downtown. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624488433817/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > The fourth day I had to ride the rest of the way solo so Duy offered > > > to take me a few miles closer from his school UCLA. It took me a while > > > to figure out how to get out of East L.A. but after being chased by > > > some stray dogs I find my way along the San Gabriel bike trial. I took > > > the trail all the way to Seal beach and rode the rest of the way along > > > the highway 1, passing by Huntington Beach, Laguna beach finally > > > stopping at Doheny State Beach. Using the left over pasta I had I > > > cooked some mean Alfredo sausage pasta. I even shared it we some > > > fellow hikers who were hiking up toe Santa Barbara to find some work. > > > I shared my meal and their shared their lives. One of the fellows left > > > his hometown of Ohio with nothing more than 500 dollars to California. > > > He has only 80 dollars left but for the things he experienced he > > > wouldn't change a thing. Despite their freedom they learn life's > > > problems the hard way and they made me put my trip into perspective. > > > Where I was doing a long journey trip for leisure, they were doing > > > their long journey trip to live. It made me really grateful for what I > > > had and I was more the happy to share what little food I had with > > > them. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624488916793/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > The fifth day I took off early because I was on a mission to visit > > > Velo Cult in San Diego. I rode my way down to UC San Diego to meet up > > > with my triathlon buddy, Nick. Figuring that I just rode 60+ miles to > > > UCSD Nick took me on his training route on through some "small" hills > > > on Genesse road. On our way downtown I get pull over by a bike > > > mechanic named Mark from Quality Bicycles asking about my trip and for > > > some tips since he was planning he's first tour. After getting lost a > > > number of times we finally reach Velo Cult. great looking bikes and > > > awesome staff, we asked suggestions of places to eat and the > > > recommended the place next door, which had awesome burgers. We then > > > rode to the Youth hostel downtown and low and behold I meet up with > > > Jean-Pierre from the train! Apparently we were saying at the same > > > hostel. After saying my good byes to Nick, I go exploring downtown San > > > Diego which was quite buzy with bicycle rickshaws and a baseball game > > > going on. There was a huge party at the hostel and my chances of > > > sleeping were very dim. Getting only two real hours of sleep I planned > > > to just sleep on the train back home. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624489091211/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > The six day I took the Amtrak early to get home in a reasonable time. > > > I had to take the train, then transfer to a bus and then transfer to > > > the last train to get back into oakland. I got to share the ride back > > > with Jean-Pierre and talked to him about his trip and his suggestions > > > for other trips. He told me the best tour that he's ever been too was > > > riding the Alps in Europe. He directed me to his website. > > > ( ww.newtrails.ch) and told me if I ever plan to ride the Alps to > > > shoot him an email. Being on the train and passing by the places I've > > > stayed at and seeing the roads I've biked on gave me time to reflected > > > on what I learned on this trip. All along the way down to San Diego, > > > kindness was the biggest factor when it came to meeting people. > > > Kindness brought interesting incounters, amazing experiences, great > > > food, and unforgetable relationships. Being kind to others by offering > > > what little you have can bring upon amazing adventures. > > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/sets/72157624613799254/ > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > -Manny "Damn I write a lot" Acosta > > > > P.S. > > > Sorry for the long write > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > > Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners- > > > [email protected]. > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > [email protected] > > > . > > > For more options, visit this group > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en > > > .- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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