Up at 5:30 AM, and with little sleep as I was thinking, “What have I forgot”, or “What if…” and then finally I still have some unfinished business and bills that need tending too, but the vendors either didn’t get it right, procrastinated on getting me the final statements or just plain didn’t believe that after over 2 months of shutting down my business I was going to be unavailable for 3 months except by e-mail or fax.   I still have my final Sales Tax return to do but I have that data with me and then we file final income taxes for the Company and finally file for dissolution of my company.  For anyone reading this from a random link or don’t know me, I am a jeweler.  I might not be a jeweler in 3 months, as part of this bike ride is to search my own soul for a new beginning.  Two young and not really financially free I’ll most likely have to work still.

These thoughts are all brushed aside as Andy and I pack the van, and take off to meet my good friend Mike Hutchings.  Mike and his wife Fran have shared a lot of adventures with Barb ( my wife) and I over the years and when I needed someone to drop us off in Carmel and take the Van to the car lot for sale, Mike stepped up to the plate like the great friend he his.  Always selfless, Thanks mike!

On the road at last and the once the excitement of actually starting passes (just about the time we hit the first hill and start huffing and puffing) reality starts to creep in…OMG we’re actually doing it! 

A nice relaxing ride, a few minor hills, Andy is struggling as he has chosen not to wear clip in shoes and as such has no upstroke or pull on the hills and grades.  With no trained quads, he is burning out fast.  He is not complaining about air, just burned out legs.  I’m getting worked, but not to the point of exhaustion like Andy.  He really is making an effort.  Frequent rest stops, snacks and liquids.  Beautiful weather.

Finally on the Big Sur hill climb, that I was hoping to clear quickly on day one, Andy has had it and we have to make camp. 

However it has one very fun side note.  I tried to get a room so we could shower and rest and the place we stopped at had one room at $225.00.  Not this guy sorry!  So we went up to a camp that was state run with a special hiker/biker place for $3.00 each and .25 for a shower.   The real treat was this gentleman Jim.  I believed he said he was from San Simeon/ Cambria area and was on a several day trip.  My best friend for the day.  He offered me a beer.  My favorite brand too (I have two favorites, Guinness and FREE) this was free.  We had a lively conversation.  Andy and I eat noodles and some protein bars, a lot of water and then slept like rocks!     The Jet Boil rocks!