Reaching our final destination
From left to right, Guy Tal, Nora Tien and Ryne Leuzinger after reaching their final designation on the sixth day of their biking expedition on Jan. 1, 2015, in San Luis Obispo, California.
May 22, 2015
Editor’s Note: Guy Tal, graduate in Engineering, is a guest columnist to the Daily Illini. This is the seventh in a series that details his experiences during a bike expedition down the coast of California with Kamilla Gray Kinard, Ryne Leuzinger and Nora Tien.
Day 6: Dancing Queen
We’re setting out early!
The rolling hills are cake compared to Big Sur. Our bodies and minds are stronger and the miles whiz by. It feels like we’re on a carnival ride, with the ocean to our right and pastureland to our left. I kid you not: we just saw zebras.
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It’s New Year’s Day!
We arrive at Cayucos, a cozy beach town, in time for a party. There’s a DJ on the sand and folks are bustin’ a move.
An elderly lady dressed in a bright yellow summer dress and beads is doing something unladylike with a pole. The DJ calls her the dancing queen, and I could swear I’ve seen her at other parties.
There’s a sign for a polar bear dip, but sadly we’re one hour too late. Nora and Kamilla get down while Ryne and I fetch the celebratory pizza and dine by the ocean. Watching the water never gets old.
Later that evening we reach San Luis Obispo, our final destination, and ride in like we’ve lived here forever.
* * *
Long distance bicycling is like the Tao. I can tell you about the seals and whales and cliffs and deer and waves and fire and food and wind and sunsets and sandwiches and moon and trees and laughter and skies and skies and skies. But that isn’t bicycling—that’s background music. Like so many freckles on a body.
Long distance bicycling is like the Tao. Try it yourself. You’ll see what I mean.
