Day 17 Beachside State Park to Jesse Honeyman Park (42 miles)

Today was my first day of rain riding. I knew it would come eventually but the hot weather had softened me up so to be hit by a total down pour was not good. Luckily the first town was only 5 miles away and there was a laundrette there. I managed to buy a decent towel to wrap round my waste while I washed and dried all of my clothes. By the time I had finished the sun was back out and shining so all was well. I had learnt a lesson though about what is morning mist and what is the start of a heavy rain storm.

I made good tracks and had time to stop off to view the sea lions basking on the rocks and playing on the shoreline. Two big hills slowed down the back end of the ride but I am finding that once I am in the flow, 40 miles is quite a comfortable distance for a morning. I'm getting the feeling I will start to increase that distance once I start having a decent breakfast as I am still just having a coffee and cereal before starting the morning ride. Im loving it all and haven't been attacked by any wild animals yet, unless a couple of bites count.

When I got to Honeyman Park I met Andy and Julia who are both going to San Francisco. Though not together, it seems they keep meeting at sites which is the same as what is happening with myself, Brenda & Kate. We all enjoyed Brendan's cooking for dinner which was a meat stew mixed with some of Andy's powder flavouring. Tomorrow is looking like a long ride based on the campsite I have been looking at but now I don't feel as uncomfortable trying to push to 60 miles as I would have done a couple months ago.