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Jim, Kristin and me headed out of San Diego around 9:30 to Santa Barbara. We could take the back roads and get there in 6 or 7 hours or jump on the freeway and be there in less than 3. We made a compromise and took the freeway system to Santa Monica and then Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara.
We timed it for the least traffic and, for California, it was. But holly crap what a ride. Trucks, tanks, and anything else with wheels came flying by. What saved us was, just before we left San Diego, one of the riders told us we could use the HOV lanes and that we did. Jim was in the lead and Kristin was last and me in the middle to keep Jim slowed down. Kristin said 65, the speed limit, was her max and she meant it. The HOV lane got us away from all the trucks and gave a little buffer from the regular traffic. Except for one stretch were some girl was right on Kristin's tail pushing her and texting at the same it was a good ride. Most of the way there was a very respectful car behind and it kept a nice buffer making for a comfortable ride.
The ride up the coast was uneventful and a nice trip. Kristin is a vegan and we started looking for a oriental restaurant for lunch to hopefully find something for her. Odd, almost every oriental restaurant was closed. We finally found a Thai-Peru restaurant. An odd mix.
We rolled into Santa Barbara and got a great rate on a Best Western hotel with a water view for about what we had paid for some of the dive places on the cannonball. Don't take that as a criticizem of the cannonball organizers. The hotels were what they had to do and they did a great job. Well, maybe except the Sun-n-Pines in Lufkin.
Jim trying to race away and yes there is no traffic for this moment. What fool is gong to try and take pictures in heavy traffic.
We survived the freeway
Why I like riding with Jim. Yes, Kristin is important, but so is the case of beer her hand is on.
Thia-Peru restaurant
