Day 9
A Short, Blessedly Uneventful Ride to Atascadero
Above: It was another day of 
California agriculture. I found 
this farm a few miles out 
of San Ardo. 

At right: Part of my route today
was an arrow-straight, dead-level
farm road that ran next to
the railroad tracks.
Ride Diary
Day 9 King City to Atascadero--67 mi/657.8 total

I was ready for a less grueling (and less frustrating) day today, and I got it. But the day didn't start out on a positive note. I had to deal with a flat on the rear wheel before even leaving the motel.

Then things got better. A stretch on 101 went without incident. Then I took a farm road into San Ardo. (I have seen a lot of California agriculture on this trip.) 

The ride into San Miguel went without incident, but thinking about some of the road surfaces I had to deal with, I can't say it literally went smoothly.

The mission at San Miguel was badly damaged in a recent earthquake. However, the town is seeing some new development. As a matter of fact, all the towns in this area--especially Paso Robles and Atascadero--are sprawling and booming.

Hopefully, they will deal with their growth and prosperity wisely.
 
 

Want to Know More About Bicycle Touring?

Want to know what it's like to ride your bicycle across the United States? Or across the world?

Or maybe you'd just like to see the pictures and read the accounts of people who have done these things.

If so, go to crazyguyonabike.com This is an excellent web site full of bicycle touring tales and travelogues, written by people who are far more adventurous than I am.

 
Today, I was through an agricultural valley before the afternoon winds came up. But I'm pretty sure the windmill (far left) was more than a decoration. After San Ardo, I got back on the 101 and stayed on it most of the way into San Miguel.

California Trivia Question: Part of today's route was designated as "Historic El Camino Real." What is the significance of El Camino Real? (See photo at left)
This rest stop was along the 101, a ways north of San Miguel. I want to say something about highway rest stops. These rest stops really do help make a long drive (or bike ride) a little less grueling. They are places to stop, stretch, go to the restroom, talk to a few other travelers, and sit in the shade. Wish we had more of these simple, yet oh-so-appreciated roadside amenities.
A downside of superhighways is that they often bypass small towns, which then wither and sometimes die. The old version of 101 used to go right through San Miguel; now it is merely an off-ramp. Although the town is beginning to show signs of revival, it is clear that the freeway hurt many businesses.
San Miguel Mission was damaged by a December 2003 earthquake. The original Mission Church and part of the courtyard are now off-limits.
Seeing it in person, it was pretty obvious that the mission had suffered very serious damage and that repairs would be long and costly.
After San Miguel, I rode about 8 miles to
lunch in Paso Robles. Between the growing
cities of Paso Robles and Atascadero is the
small town of Templeton. At right is the 
view down one of its main streets.


 
On one of the farms outside Templeton, I saw some llamas. 
This one was looking right at me until (of course) I got my camera out.

California Trivia Answer: Historic El Camino Real runs from Sonoma to
San Diego. "The King's Road" was created by the Spanish to link up 
California's missions, presidios and pueblos. Much of El Camino Real
is along the 101.

SUMMARY: 67 miles. A pleasant, routine day. Sign on a bank building in Atascadero said it was 95 degrees at about 2:30 p.m., but I don't think it was that hot.

[DAY 10: On to Lompoc]