San Luis Obispo

It was 7:30p.m. in Los Osos, and I was hungry, tired, and sore from the last 3 days of biking Big Sur. If I could make it just 15 more miles to San Luis Obispo (SLO), I had a place to sleep for the night. It was quickly getting dark and a rear flat tire exacerbated the situation. I decided it was best to look for a camp site and to continue in the morning. When I called to notify Mary Shea, a 93 year old friend of Great Grandma Stump and an SLO resident, she told me that I must “suck it up” and that an anonymous person has donated two nights in an upscale, “taste of Mediterranean Europe”, bed and breakfast.

How could I refuse? I patched the flat and biked faster than I probably ever had. I was so intrigued and motivated by such a timely and kind donation.

I soon arrived in SLO and came to the Petite Soleil B&B (www.petitsoleilslo.com) where Chiva and I were warmly greeted with wine, classical music, chocolate on a bed, and most importantly a shower. This was certainly a change of pace from the guerilla camping. I still do not know who donated the two nights, but it is unbelievable generosity that will be remembered the rest of my life!

After devouring a delicious breakfast the next morning, I decided to donate the second night to the local animal shelter. I had my shower and thus was good to go for another week. The B&B staff and the anonymous donor okayed my decision, and $180 is to be donated to the Woods Humane Society (www.woodshumanesociety.org).

My eyes are now set on Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48. Chiva and I have enjoyed the Pacific Coast immensely, but it is now time to head inland to stay on task. I plan to bike very challenging, mountain back that I will outline as we now head to Bakersfield and Lone Pine.

Many thanks to Mary’s hospitality (camping in her back yard) and Clippers Barbershop (www.clippersbarber.com) who gave me a free first haircut of the trip.

Wildflowers and an elephant seal colony near San Simeon. I amazingly ran into good friend, Bill Van Lew here. Small world!

Somebody is seriously hogging some space!

Chiva chilling near the Big Sur guerilla camping spot.

California gas prices. Happy to be biking!