Some days just pack it all in. Easy miles, tough climbs, and a little bit of chaos along the way.
I left Hollister State Recreation Area around 10:30 in the morning. My legs got a gentle wake-up call with a steady climb out of the valley. From there, I dropped into some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever ridden through. Vineyards, rolling hills, light traffic—about 30 miles of absolutely perfect cycling.
At one point, I even rode through a massive swarm of bees. Luckily, no stings, just a lot of buzzing.
By 2:30 I made it to Pinnacles National Park. Unfortunately, they turned me away. Acres of parking lots for RVs but apparently no room for a bicycle and a tent. Pretty frustrating.
I pushed on another 20 miles toward the Laguna Mountain BLM area. The last stretch was a brutal climb with grades hitting 8 to 10 percent and higher. I had to push my bike for about 500 feet at the very end just to make it over.
The first campsite I tried was full, so I kept going. About two more miles down the road I found a big site and a fellow camper willing to share. I cooked up a giant stir fry, had a cookie with hot cocoa, and crawled into my sleeping bag right as the stars came out.
What an amazing day. I cannot wait for more days like this.