At the end of any journey, a thoughtful person reflects. What were the highlights? How does it compare to other experiences? Was the goal accomplished? Was the effort worthwhile? What have we learned along the way? How has this changed us?
Bryan and I discussed these questions, reviewing the trip, while we drove on to Yuma to visit friends before finally stopping for the night at Santan Valley/Phoenix at Jan and Gord Webster's. I admit that I wanted more time to process and to relax at Bryan's sister's in preparation for writing our final blog.
What were the highlights? This could perhaps be called "Taste Tester Tourism" because we only sampled a little of what each area had to offer. Those who have spent more time realize how much we missed. However, we did get an overall impression, identifying places where we would like to return for the 'whole meal deal'. We saw so much in such a short time but loved the variety and the richness of people, landscapes and experiences. We need a blog to help us remember the details. Driving through redwood forests and along the ocean more than compensated for the tension of urban traffic.
We started out by comparing this trip to Bryan's cross-Canada experience but were soon more immersed in the present. Now, from the vantage point of the end, these are our observations. Bryan found this trip tougher, more demanding, despite the shorter distance. In the 19 days, there was only one day that he could call 'easy', with many long climbs, winding roads, ocean winds, tight switchbacks that meant no downhill respite, and heavy traffic at times. This trip demanded more technical cycling and alertness all of the time. Across Canada he was able to stick to secondary highways without having to detour from freeways. The Rockies had an end, with Osoyoos being his hardest climb, but there were more challenging ones here, coupled with traffic. Vancouver was the only city Bryan had to navigate a part of, while San Francisco, LA and San Diego were unavoidable and huge. The trip in 2009 was fairly straight forward, but there were many times here when the bike route suddenly became a freeway where bikes were not allowed. In 2009, Bryan was able to simply stop at tourist information to find his way, but this was not always the case here. Even with a highly recommended book, we constantly had to search out information from several sources to plan the next segment. Signage was sometimes poor for cyclists in California or bike routes were far too complex.
However, this trip was easier for Bryan as well. He had a support vehicle right from the start, he didn't pitch a tent at all, and had access to internet. It was so good to have the on-board navigation system to check the distance ahead, to help us get through urban areas, and to find motels. We could put the bike in the SUV when he was illegal on a freeway, or when the distance to the next town was too far for the daylight hours. Cycling in June (2009), there were longer days, so he could cover more distance, unlike in March. It was also colder in March, especially with ocean winds and many campgrounds not yet open for the season. On this trip, Bryan didn't have to worry so much about food since it was easy for me to keep him fed with lots of restaurants and grocery stores available. We enjoyed many gourmet suppers, feasting on seafood as we had in the Maritimes. Motels are more inexpensive in March, but the ones we stayed in were comparable to the ones in Canada. We like those smaller, independently owned places with unique differences.
It was also great to be able to stay in touch with friends and family with internet. Every motel had WiFi, which we used each evening and morning.
Did we accomplish our goal? To answer that we have to first identify the goals. We wanted to share the experience. We absolutely did that. I often viewed the route with an eye to the shoulder of the road and the conditions that Bryan would encounter. We shared our perspectives and individual experiences several times during the day, recapping over supper. We wanted to see the country. Did we ever! And in slow-paced detail. Bryan wanted to cycle the 101. He did this, as much as was possible. There were times when safety over ruled. If Bryan did not feel safe or if we would have trouble re-connecting in a big centre, he put the bike in the SUV. Sometimes, we had to get to the motel further down the road than he was able to cycle in the remaining daylight.
Perhaps some stats at this point would be useful. The mileage on the Escape indicates that we logged 5287 km from Outlook, SK to Imperial Beach, CA. The cycling portion was about 2047 km of the total 3033 km from Washington to California. That means that over the 19 day, Bryan didn't bike about 986 km, which includes not biking in San Francisco, LA or into San Diego. It took us 4 hours to drive through LA alone! He cycled 4 days in a rainy Washington (428 km), 3 days in Oregon having found his cadence in the sunshine, and 12 days in California (1193 km). He would have liked to say he touched the Mexican border, but 6 miles away in Imperial Beach was as close as he could get in that area. He had one flat tire, repaired the bike twice and has totally worn out one chain. This is the same reliable bike that he crossed Canada with in 2009.
So, was the effort and expense worthwhile? Absolutely! We have the resources and time, the encouragement of many, and positive feedback daily. It was good to see Bryan's satisfaction with his day's ride. As well, the shared experience brought us together in a new way. We also met many good people who impressed upon us the generosity and hospitality of the USA, just like Bryan's 2009 impression of Canada. We gained a renewed respect and understanding of environment. What God has created is truly so good. We became more sensitive to the lives of people who live in demanding environments, and those who struggle with poverty and homelessness. Finally, we have been challenged to trust in unfamiliar or difficult situations and have been reassured by God's faithfulness. We are thankful for safety, good weather, good friends, and so much more that is intangible. Thanks to everyone who encouraged us along the way. We will pay off the credit card, but the memories and experiences are priceless.
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