Trains, transfers, and total strangers

 March 11, 2023

Simi Valley to San Clemente State Beach.

As I'm sitting by the fire, I realize how lucky I am. A firelog given to us by a Canadian couple, a glass of red wine and some delicious Indian food. Life is good.

The alarm ⏰ rang at 630 am this morning so we would be in time for our train. Barb and Bob gracefully offered to ride with us to the train station. They made us feel welcome, fed us and provided us with a comfortable bed.  So grateful to have met them.

Soon we found out that there had been another mudslide resulting in a long delay. When the train finally arrived we were told that we had to transfer in Los Angeles. Not easy to do with heavy bikes. However, we are getting very good at lifting up, turning around, and fasten our bikes in narrow spaces. Yet I hope that this will be the last train ride for a while.

By the time we arrived at San Juan Capistrano it was too late to reach our planned camping for the night so we stopped at San Clemente State Beach.  So happy there was a place for us. Yet that happiness changed quickly to disbelief as we had to pay 52.00 US$ for a small piece of grass. Hard to swallow. 

While we were setting up camp, a white SUV pulled in. The driver called that he was delivering the award of inspiration and that Vicki and I were the winners. We asked what the reward was and we were told a glass of wine and some firewood. The couple were from British Columbia but lived in this area for years. We talked for a while and then they left. But returned 15 minutes later with a firelog, some wine and an invitation to call in case we need anything else. Wonderful and kind people.

The sun finally came out warming us. It felt so good. After all the rain, cold and dampness  mother nature is changing her mind, or at least for a couple of hours. The fog has rolled in and there is a little misty rain. But much warmer than a couple of days ago. Two more days riding the Pacific Coast.

San Clemente was probably one of those beaches that doesn't have a hiker/biker area, meaning that everyone has to pay for a car camping spot, even if they only pitch a tent. Sorry you had to pay that. I ran into a similar thing at Pismo Beach, and even the rangers were apologetic about it. (Roderick Young).