6. Pismo Beach to Gaviota, CA, USA

This completely magical day started with a suburban fairy-cat house, required gate-crashing a closed road, included several conversations with cattle, and ended with a climb over Gaviota Pass with both the sun and the moon hanging in the sky at the same time and a riot of super-blooming wildflowers cheering me on. A night at yet another 5-star California State Park, where the kind campground host, Kris, greeted me with a Dr. Pepper, left me refreshed and in love with the world.

Distance: 64.91 mi / 104.46 km

Climbing: 2,808 ft / 853.6 m

Totals: 370 mi / 596 km; 16,006 ft / 4,879 m

Sleep Spot: Gaviota State Park

Song: "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

Route: