PCT 2007 Day 30 – Onofre State Beach – San Diego, CA

PCT 2007 Day 30

Stage 30 / 4-24-07
Onofre State Beach – San Diego (KOA)
74.39 miles; 1782.74 total miles 12.2 mph; avg. 6:04 hours
70’s and sunny

Well yesterday I was an idiot and didn’t think I needed sun screen on my arms, hands and neck. They were cherry red all day. To help the arms and hands, I wore my gloves and a long sleeve shirt all day. I feel much warmer than I am since I got even more sun today.
I can’t imagine what hiking all day in the desert is going to be like. I get lots of shade while riding.

The CG last night was super noisy since it was next to Interstate 5 and some train tracks. It was without a doubt an earplug night. I was sleeping on an angle and kept slipping down inside my tent. I slept okay though. I was up early and was on the road by 7:15 AM. The stage started on a bike path inside the CG and then it cut through Camp Pendleton Marine Base. I had to go through a check point and show my ID. The base was huge and I heard them practicing their shooting a bunch of times. I also saw the obstacle courses you see the Marines going through.

After the base I took surface streets through Oceanside until I got on S21 or Historical 101. That took me through Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, and Del Mar.

I had pizza at 11 AM in Leucadia or Encinitas, I can’t remember which one. Later in La Jolla I had second lunch, a turkey sandwich.

Just before La Jolla I had a nice little climb at Torrey Pines State Reserve. The regular route stayed on S21 but I needed water and the park road went to the same place but on a steeper climb. From La Jolla it was more surface streets and bike paths all the way to the campground. I did get sidetracked a few times on route. Neither time cost me much time.

In the Pacific Beach area of San Diego I hung out on the boardwalk a bit. It was nice to enjoy the ocean a little bit more before I left it for good. There was also a lot of interesting people to watch.

The last part of the day was a drag since I was tired, burned and had to go through the most city like areas yet. Tomorrow will start like today ended but then I’ll be headed for the desert and nothingness.

At the CG I was just going to make dinner and a nice couple from Montreal asked me if I wanted to eat with them. Their names were Ben and Marguerite. They are in their early 60’s and have section hiked a bunch of the Appalachian Trail. They said they invited me to join them because of the kindness they learned on the AT from Trail Angels who helped them. They had just finished leading 20 other motor homes on a 4000 miles trip through Mexico and are headed back home. They made a detour to see the National parks of the west. They were super nice and the food was great. I had wine, an appetizer and pasta with smoked salmon.

Well its late and I need to get some rest. Hopefully the street lamp right next to my site will not keep me up.

Scatman 2011- I was amazed that it was the last night on my bike trip that another group of campers besides the one guy who left me firewood actually offered to share camp with me.  I remember when I was a kid people were so open and friendly when I went camping with my family.  I did not get that on this trip.  Maybe it was the beard and the fact that I was on a bike.

The bike trip was a lonely one, though I enjoyed it so very much.  The coast was such an amazing experience and the places and things I saw will stay with me forever.  I would love to go back to the Oregon coast again.

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Scatman

Get out there!

You can check out my Appalachian Trail or Continental Divide Trail journals too!