Day 4 we leave Paso Robles, we get to Highway 46 headed for the coast to Rest Stop 1 at Jack Creek Farms. I took my bike to Bike Tech as I was getting a constant clicking noise from the rear wheel. A couple of the spokes were lose, and the rear wheel was out of true slightly also, so I will take it into Bike Tech in camp overnight.

Jerome & I start climbing, Evil Twin #1 followed by Evil Twin #2 and at the top is the unofficial halfway point to Los Angeles where we took a few quick photos and then hit the downhill to the coast. It was very clear this year, and you could easily make out Morro Rock.

I had Jerome follow me at the beginning to look at my rear wheel and see if it looked OK. It was fairly windy, and I knew I was be going slow, so I told him I'd catch up at the rest stop. I think I have a mental issue about this hill, since the first year when I had what the owner at the LBS thought was wind harmonics thru the wheels, causing a scary vibration going downhill. Last year, I had new wheels, due to a broken hub after last years ride, and these wheels have bladed spokes. I think the loose spokes and wheel out of true had me descending even slower than the rest. About 3/4 of the way down, Jerome was stopped and took a photo when I finally rode up, and he agreed, I was slow. I saw Erik at the rest stop though, and downhill speed demon that he is, he said he had issues with the winds too and took it mostly at about 30 mph, instead of his normal 40-45, so that made me feel better.

Rest Stop 2 was at mile 33.3 at a CalTrans Pullout on Highway 1, and Lunch was at Cuestat College (so nasty short climb in and out of the park, where lunch had been the 2 previous years) and it was getting warm this day.

On the way to Rest Stop 3, the temperature get near 90, but after turning the corner and a short climb, just past the Avila Beach Hot Springs, you turn a corner towards the coast and the temperature dropped nicely.

Jerome & I found Ron at the cinnamon roll place in Pismo Beach, and then the 3 of us head to the last climb of the day, only 8/10 of a mile but on a narrow busy road, overlooking the strawberry fields on the right as you climb. Jerome mentioned he loves this hill (whatever!) and it seemed easier to me this year.

Rest Stop 4 was at mile 83 LeRoy Park in Guadalupe, but getting there was a major challenge. The sidewinds before getting down to the farmland were incredible. I stopped on the downhill to recompose as it was really blowing me around. From there it was all I could do at 5 mph leaning into the wind to not get blown into traffic (which thankfully was lighter than I recalled in previous years.) The theme at RS#4 was Day at the Spa, and they even treated us to cucumber water, and neck massages, and Joseph Schmidt truffles!

From there it's 12 miles with a nice tailwind to camp at Preisker Park in Santa Maria.