erica anntag:dayonedesign.net,2011:100-mile-bike-ride-through-the-los-padras-national-forest/13142631042009-05-17T17:23:49-07:002011-08-25T02:05:04-07:002009-05-17T16:38:00-07:00 <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChHwD-AGI/AAAAAAAAAv4/qI1PclEDU8U/s320/biker+babe.jpg"> At least once a year or so, I like to do something totally physically challenging and something I never knew I could do. This year, my natural builder friend, Kata Polano, invited me to join her on a 100-mile bike ride from Santa Barbar to a Women's Permaculture Gatherning at Quail SPrings Learning Oasis. We would have to go from sea level through the Los Pardes National Forest and go over two passes, the highest over 5000' in elveation, so how could I resist? <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChlVnGhpI/AAAAAAAAAxo/1bictB7JBqI/s1600-h/ready.jpg" thumb="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChlVnGhpI/AAAAAAAAAxo/1bictB7JBqI/s320/ready.jpg"> Gearing up <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChgBy9s1I/AAAAAAAAAxI/7mbYYMEkAvw/s320/arts+surprised.jpg">Art can not believe we are crazy enough to do this! Especially since today is my first day riding this bike <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChITJtXHI/AAAAAAAAAwI/E8T0qCqkDgg/s320/we+are+off.jpg">And we are off! <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChTSZrEeI/AAAAAAAAAxA/DaIxrqf26ww/s320/mountain+rd+burn.jpg"> The first day we rode through last year's burned region. Upper Mountain Road, Santa Barbara Heavy sights to take in. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChgs3hcBI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Aw9rmB7arFc/s320/funny+biker+mailbox.jpg"> But also funny stuff! Kata found this biker mailbox and couldn't resist some comic relief <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChgX4rXuI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/PcuxZIQQ2gk/s320/camping.jpg"> Camping out &amp; rice cakes for breakfast <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChIjrEEuI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/E5Kt2mO3ShI/s320/water+hole.jpg"> Awesome water hole <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChS-vJ8lI/AAAAAAAAAwo/JkFzohPsJzU/s320/terrain.jpg"> the terrain ahead <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChImj63hI/AAAAAAAAAwY/4qVgsZjpBG8/s320/the+road+behind.jpg"> Looking back down over the first pass, tons of switchbacks! we just increased about 2500' elevation without any downhills <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChlfAYgzI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Rf8Un1oaYkQ/s320/kata+lacks+salt.jpg">We forgot to bring any salty snacks, so kata licks her sweat back into her body. ya know, bikers are hard-core <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChTAUeDtI/AAAAAAAAAww/GVu6cfDtJOY/s1600-h/summit.jpg" thumb="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChTAUeDtI/AAAAAAAAAww/GVu6cfDtJOY/s320/summit.jpg"> We reach the summit! (and then it starts to rain) our last 16 miles we were completely soaked, but it still felt so great! especially knowing we had an amazing welcome crew down at Quail Springs. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChTElX0XI/AAAAAAAAAw4/tDmbFD9dNms/s320/past+the+summit.jpg">Cuyama Valley <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChILlEAhI/AAAAAAAAAwA/WxNvL3pUmec/s1600-h/yee+haw.jpg" thumb="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/ShChILlEAhI/AAAAAAAAAwA/WxNvL3pUmec/s320/yee+haw.jpg"> We survived, hooray!