9. Malibu to Pasadena, CA, USA

People I love bookended this day: Christine in the morning and my cousins Carla and Allen in the evening.

In between was a wend down the Pacific Coast Highway, followed by a scenic tour of LA. On the PCH, I cruised alongside a flock of pelicans for half a mile and spotted a pod of dolphins while eating gummy candies. In other words, I was living my best life, which is suspiciously similar to that of a 10-year-old boy.

The stop-and-go of LA traffic was made merry by the kindness of Angelenos. Motorists gave me the right of way when they didn't have to (bless them each and every one.). A driver actually apologized to me when he blocked a crosswalk. And as I climbed up to Pasadena, a young guy waiting for a bus started cheering me on, "Keep it up! You got this! Way to go!" giving me actual life.

The good vibes continued in Pasadena, where I dined with my super-generous, extra-cool, and always-hilarious SoCal cousins, Carla and Allen, who schlepped all the way up from Orange to meet me. Allen even made a video of me giving a tour of my bike's components and luggage, which is every cyclist's secret dream. And as usual, Carla (who is an actual comedian) made me snort with her stories.

I am now in uncharted territory. I had previously ridden most of the route from SF to LA during my two AIDS/LifeCycle forays, following the Adventure Cycling Association's Pacific Coast route. I've now turned onto ACA's Route 66, which follows the historic highway that funneled countless Americans from the heartland to the promised land of the West Coast, before it was replaced by Interstate 40 (I-40). Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath portrayed the grim reality of that journey for many seeking a better life during the Great Depression.

My own sojourn does not even begin to compare. But still. In my own small and comfortable life, shit just got real.

Distance: 52.61 mi / 84.66 km

Climbing: 1788 ft / 545 m

Totals: 521 mi / 839 km; 19,957 ft / 6,083 m

Sleep Spot: Green Tree Inn

Song: "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow

Route: