#when my mom told me there was a dilly bar with my name on it when we got home

[bikingb1tches]

DAY 29

San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Hours: 9hrs

Miles: 95 mi

Elevation gain: 3,018 ft

Elevation loss: 3,176 ft

Clip-in falls: 3

Flat tires: 1

Well, it happened. I had the first (and hopefully only) flat of this entire trip.

I knew if I was going to get a flat on this trip, it would be today, because today is my longest and hardest day, and so naturally that is what would happen.

Ethan woke up and made me coffee and a breakfast burrito to fuel me up for my long journey; I thought I would eat half of it and then save the other half, but nope, I definitely ate the whole thing. On top of that, he had already looked at my bike before I got up to see if everything looked good. Truly truly truly, the most thoughtful and knowing host.

He rode out with me to Edna--about 6.5 miles--and then I was on my way to yet another night of friends from school, Collin and Alexis Barrett. Honestly, if they weren’t the end goal of such a long day, I probably wouldn’t have bothered or been motivated enough to attempt it.

Just south of Pismo Beach, I stopped at a thrift store/art spot called THE PLACE, because Ethan actually has a photography show up there right now!

I loved the photos Ethan had up—he works for a news station, but he took a series of photos ‘behind the scenes’ at the event he had to be at. His photos really told stories about the real people behind the events, not just the smiling and posed ‘news’ part of it—a girl whose sheep won in 4-H, but she’s sad because it means it is going to slaughter; a day at the pool when dogs are allowed; a really cool shot of this guy’s cowboy boots as he walks, and the centerpiece of the photo is shot between his legs. I liked them so much that I bought one of this super rad girl skateboarding (it was between that and the dog day at the pool, but that was already taken).

I spoke with the owner of THE PLACE for a bit, standing next to the coy pond and turtles in the center of this high-ceiling shack/barn, and he had such interesting stories to tell. He used to work in Hollywood as a prop/set guy and from what he said, he was at the top of his class, working on things like Super Bowl ads and such. He told me a story of how he snuck wine in a bag into a restaurant and Julia Child called him her so he would share it, and they were friends for many years. I would love to just sit and listen to all his stories, but I had to get back on the road; I had already dilly-dawdled loo long, part of which was procrastination of the many miles I had ahead of me.

I don’t have many pictures from the middle of the day because a lot of it was biking through yellowed hills and farmland with some headwinds, though it was mostly flat. The first big challenge of the day was a big hill right before Lompac. Not only was it relatively steep, the approach to the main part of the hill had strong headwinds, so I was screwed from the start. The hill was one of those put-your-head-down-and-grind-it-out moments for me; I’ve done harder hills but I was already pretty worn out from my last two big days and it was getting pretty warm. There are some days where I feel like I can just bust out a hill, maybe only stop once to take a break, but this was not that type of day for me. I made mini-goals during the hill so it didn’t feel like such a big, impossible task—peddle to that shade and you can take a break, round this blind switchback and if there is a shoulder on the next turn, take a break; if not, keep going until there is a shoulder.

Really, this whole day was made up of mini-goals—Guadalupe was a goal and a small break; Lompac was lunch and a longer break; Ragged Point was 3/4 of the way and a big snack break;  and then Santa Barbara would be the final push. It’s these little tricks--looking down while you climb the hill, rewarding yourself with breaks, splitting up a long day into mini-goals—that have made this trip  and harder days possible. Because, at the end of the day, either you get there or you quit, and quitting for me meant going home and back to normal life. When it is hard and I don’t want to be on the bike anymore and I want to be done, I ask myself what I would be doing if I wasn’t biking? I would be sitting at work, driving home, lounging on my couch, sleeping, and doing the same thing the next day. And I would choose biking, each day an adventure and the opportunity to see new things and see people I care about, over going home. So I bike on.

At the top of the hill I took a water break before the big descent into Lompac, which I was very much looking forward to, and while I was stopped there, one of the three boys from Idaho rode up! I haven’t seen them for over a week and had assumed they were far ahead of me, since the last time we talked, they were pushing a lot of miles each day. Looks like they caught up with me.

The long downhill into Lompac was so refreshing after all the work I put into going up it. The road wound down and around, and there really is no feeling like lowering to your drop bars and cruising down some downhill curves at 35-40mph. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating.

I was originally heading to a coffee shop to charge and have a long lunch, but on the way there, I was distracted by a red, glorious sign—Wendy’s. I probably passed a Wendy’s at some point on this trip, but this is the first Wendy’s I can recall actually seeing, and I have been craving a chocolate frosty basically this entire trip. I met another bike tourist there, who had started in Vancouver and was headed to the Mexico border. It seems the further south I go, the more cycling tourists I meet.

I did end up at the coffee shop for a bit because all I crave is iced lattes and sandwiches for lunch lately, but then pushed on to Ragged Point. The sun was getting less intense at this point, and the terrain was getting a little hillier. I had a new wave of energy, though, because of lunch and Sour Patch Kids, so I only stopped for a bit at Ragged Point to have one last snack before the final 25 miles into Santa Barbara.

I hopped back in the 101 for about five miles until I heard the saddest noise I have heard on this trip—my back tube quickly deflating. I made it 1,300 miles, over 1,000 of those with Kate, and 20 miles from my destination on my longest day, I get a flat. And it’s my back tire. And I have to change it alone. I’ve only put tubes on a bike once, and that was when Kate and I assembled my bike the day before we left for this trip.

I always surprise myself in these types of situations, though. I usually end up in a pickle of some kind that I have to problem solve quickly when I do big trips—my rental car from South Bend to Chicago is in a different location so I’m running really late for my flight while I drive through a snowstorm with my cat in a carrier; missing my train in Europe and then having to research a vast schedule of connecting trains that will help get me to where I want to go at about the same time; running out of money in Australia before boarding my flight back to the US and so I can’t pay for my bag. Most of the times that happens, though, it’s within the confines of modern society—I’m able to drop off the car, pay for my cat, and get through security with 10 minutes to spare because I checked in on the flight and already had my bags tagged; I figure out the complicated route and connections for the trains using wifi and a train schedule; my mom transfers money to me but then a wonderful Australian woman hands me a $50 to pay for my bag. There’s usually technology or money involved that can help fix my problem.

There’s only a couple of instances in my life where the pickle I’m in requires physical or hands-on problem-solving, and so this is added to that list. I let myself curse for a second to get our my frustrations, took a deep breath, and then got all the tools out I would need. There’s something extremely satisfying about working with your hands, getting a little greasy and bloody, figuring out the way things are put together. I remembered all of the trouble points Kate and I experienced the first time and was able to pretty easily get an edge of the tire out of the rim, get the old tube out, put in the new one, pump it up a bit, and then start wrestling the tire back under the rim. This, and pumping it up, would be the two hardest parts of the tube change.

Praise Her, though, because just as I was finishing up the tire, a truck pulled up and a wonderful man named Alberto helped me get the tire back in the rim, pump up the tube enough so it wouldn’t pinch between the rim and the tire, and then he offered me a ride into Santa Barbara. For a second, I almost declined; I had my mind set on doing a century, finishing what I started, not ‘taking the easy way out.’ It was a lot of pride, really. But then I snapped out of that—the reason I was pushing to get to Santa Barbara was to have more time with Collin and Alexis, and what was I trying to prove? It would be another two hours on the bike, or a 20-minute ride in a truck. I finally came to my senses and took the ride, and dear god how happy I am that I did. Alberto helped me put everything in his truck, was a lovely conversationalist, and let me eat his cashews. And it only took 20 minutes. Cars still blow me away.

I arrived at the Barretts’ but wasn’t sure which unit was their’s and they were still out to dinner, so I started snooping around. I was super over it all at this point and just wanted to be inside, off my bike, eating. I finally decided the porch with all the cute succulents and plants must be theirs, so I started sleuthing for a hidden key, which I found. I unlocked the door, said ‘please be their place,’ turned on the light, and saw a wedding photo of Collin and his groomsman. Oh, thank god.

I grabbed a beer, made a tortilla wrap with cheese and pepperoni because I was that desperate just to eat, and then Alexis and Collin were home! Alexis made me a frozen pizza, which I ate all of, I took a shower, we chatted, and I knocked out hard on their couch. Seeing both of them again and chatting in their living room really made the whole day worth it—they are both friends that I have not seen for three years (!!!!!!), but when I do, it’s back to normal in a few minutes. Collin is one of my first friends from college, and he and Alexis were dating even then, so I basically feel like I went to college with her, too. In some ways, it was like a mini-homecoming.

Tomorrow is my last night camping! It’s a push tomorrow as well but not nearly as much as today. Today may be the longest I’ll ride on this trip.

[toomanysurveys9]

Can you remember the first survey that you ever took?

no. just that it was on myspace when that was a thing.

What did you spend the majority of the last night doing?

went to kayla’s for dinner, then came back and just hung out at home.

Have you ever had a particularly disturbing dream? About?

i’ve been having a lot of weird, upsetting dreams lately.

What goes through your mind when someone threatens suicide?

i want to help them feel better. all i think about is how can i fix things and keep them living.

Have you ever expressed that you wanted to kill yourself?

yeah.

Should gay marriage be legalized? What are your reasons?

it is legal, which is good. it should be.

Would you ever consider getting an abortion, under any circumstances?

maybe if the baby would suffer and not make it.. i don’t know though. that’d be so hard..

What do you think of people who get abortions?

it’s not my business.

What was the last bug you killed?

spider i think.

Do you ever argue or debate with people about your beliefs?

not usually.

If yes, when was the last time?

i just got in a debate the other day though because people were saying it is wrong of me to call wyatt a boy, and that putting his gender as such on his birth certificate is confining him to his gender..

When was the last time you felt turned on?

couple days ago.

When was the last time you felt disgusted with someone/something?

last night.

Do you typically finish all the food you put on your plate?

depends.

Do you continue eating even when you are full?

sometimes, especially if we’re eating out.

What is the most wasteful thing that you do on a regular basis?

these.

What is one weird eating habit that you have?

i’m weird about which fries i’ll eat.

What is something other people tease you about?

^^ and wyatt being a momma’s boy. but he’s only almost nine months old, and i am the one who primarily cares for and interacts with him sooo...

Does it bother you to be teased about this?

it’s kind of annoying sometimes.

Would you rather suffer from anorexia or bulimia?

neither. this is officially the stupidest question i think i’ve read on a survey.

What is the worst question a survey could ask you?

well, the one that was just asked i think takes that cake. but i also just read the next question. so...

Do you think it’s okay for a survey to ask if you’ve been raped? Why?

i feel like that’s not a question that needs to be asked. if someone wants to talk about their personal life in different questions, that’s fine. but that seems insensitive and like it’s no one’s business.

Would you answer such a question honestly, if faced with it?

i might. i might not. more likely not if it’s worded like that.

If you are a vegetarian, do you look down on people that eat meat?

i’m not a vegetarian.

Why do you think some vegetarians behave that way?

i don’t know.

If you eat meat, what do you tend to think of vegetarians/vegans?

i don’t care what other people do.

If you paint your nails, what color do you generally choose?

red. black. pink.

If you could spend a day as the opposite gender, what would you do?

i have no idea, to be honest.

What are some good things about your gender?

pregnancy. having babies. i don’t know. haha.

What are some of the downsides?

^^^

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start life over?

kind of i guess.

What might you do differently?

go to school for something different. take my name off of the lease at the trailer park.

If you could spend a year living in a foreign country, which would it be?

i thought about china.. but i think i’d prefer somewhere like italy.

Why did you make this particular choice?

it’s pretty. food. :p

What is the next big event you have planned, if any?

it’s not planned yet, but wyatt’s first birthday.

What do you do to entertain yourself on long car rides?

sing. talk. car games. read. dance crazy. sleep.

What do you say to someone who is annoying you?

usually i just ignore them.

How do you let someone know you don’t like them?

i guess my body language.

When was the last time you felt insecure? What happened?

i don’t remember.

How did/do you feel about learning to drive? Who taught you?

i was excited and scared. my dad mostly taught me.

What do you think of people that like the Twilight series?

i don’t care. i used to.

What do you think of using lyrics to express how you feel?

i don’t see anything wrong with it.

Do you prefer profile pictures by yourself of with someone else?

either. i’m not picky.

When’s the last time you had Sunny D?

it has been years.

Is there anything hot pink within five feet of you?

yeah. some toys and whatnot.

Have you ever told someone you hated them and meant it?

yup.

Do you and your friends ever make up ‘code names’ for people?

not so much, no.

Would you rather go out to breakfast, lunch or dinner?

probably dinner.

Do you know how to work a barbecue?

not really, no.

Do you find it rude when people text when they’re talking to you?

depends how much and whether all of their attention is on that.

What would you do if the last person you spoke to on the phone asked you to marry them?

that’s my mom, so that’d be weird.

What’s the longest you’ve ever been out of your state/province?

a week.

Do you know anyone who has written a book?

not published.

Would you rather have eggs or waffles for breakfast?

eggs. i’m not much of a waffle eater.

How many people could you fit (standing up) in your kitchen?

you can barely fit one person.

How long would it take to walk to the nearest McDonald’s?

maybe 15 minutes.

Does your best friend have any pets?

she has a dog named spencer, and a rabbit named abigail.

Is there something that happened to you ages ago but seems like only yesterday?

i guess so.

Where would you go if you wanted a fake ID?

i wouldn’t have a clue.

What would you do if the last person you laughed with dated your best friend?

since she’s my sister and she’s five. i would have some issues.

Who’s the last person you shot a dirty look to?

i don’t remember.

What was your second to last conversation about?

wyatt opening his mouth so cocoa could lick his mouth... it’s so gross.

Do you drink milk/juice from the carton if no one is around?

no i don’t. i used to occasionally because my mom but i stopped.

Do you know anyone who broke a limb from being in a car accident?

not that i know of.

Have you ever burned a photo of you and a person you were angry with?

nope. i’m not that dramatic.

Would you prefer working at a grocery store or an ice cream parlor? Why?

i think i’d prefer the ice cream parlor, as long as it’s not like dairy queen.

Has anyone ever told you they liked you in a realllly sweet way?

not really, no.

Is there any ice cream in your house right now? What kind?

jacob has some snicker ice cream or something. and i think there is a dilly bar.

What’s the best part of sleepovers?

friends.

What’s the most comfy thing to sleep in?

nothing. or just a big tshirt.

Does the last person who sent you a message online wear makeup?

no.

Would you rather have an overly cheerful cashier,or a completely silent one?

eh. i’d be fine with a silent one..

Do you cry at weddings?

sometimes. depends who.

Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night frequently?

for wyatt, yes.

Do you bring pillows on road trips?

of course.

What’s the most important thing for a road trip?

snacks and drinks.

Has a member of the opposite sex ever given you jewelry?

yup. jacob has numerous times.

Do you like camping, or would you rather stay home?

i’d like to try actual camping.

Do you know anyone who’s name is your middle name?

yeah.

Do you think Super Bad was as funny as everyone said?

never seen it.

If you wanted a hamburger right now, where would you go?

steak n shake.

What about a new pair of shoes?

walmart. they’re cheap.

Do you find sleeping in cars easy?

not usually.

How long would your hair be if you cut off eight inches?

really freaking short.

Would you do that?

noooo.

Have you ever woke up with someone you didn’t know next to you?

nope.

Has a boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s parents ever gotten mad at you? Why?

yeah. i don’t remember why.

Have you ever been friends with a boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s siblings?

not really, no.

Who’s the last person you told to shut up?

i don’t remember.

Do you know who Blair Waldorf is?

no..

Do you own any hot pink clothes?

underwear.

[goblinkind]

for the honesty hour: do all the odds! :)

Honesty Hour

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?

Max!

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?

My little brothers ♡ I’ll get to see them over the summer!

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?

Oh, absolutely.

7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

I hope not!

9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

No—I actually really enjoy talking about sex. I’d much rather talk about it than have it, ya know?

11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?

“Thank you ☺️💕☺️💕”

13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?

GOD, yes. I like it a lot.

15. What good thing happened this summer?

I (accidentally⁇) broke off a friendship that clearly needed to be broken off. It feels good not to have to worry about it anymore.

17. Do you think there is life on other planets?

Yes. 100% yes.

19. Do you like bubble baths?

Yeah, who doesn’t? They’re a lot of work, though.

21. What are you bad habits?

Uhhhh, cackling? Ooh, procrastinating. And not shutting up.

23. Do you have trust issues?

Once upon a time I didn’t, but I sure do now!

25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?

I’m really happy with my body, but I do wish I had a bit more muscle.

27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?

My skin is fine the way it is.

29. Have any of your exes told you they regret breaking up?

Yeah, of course. That’s what exes do.

31. If your hair long enough for a ponytail?

Yep!

33. Spell your name with your chin.

g4jrgfw

35. Would you rather live without TV or [live without] music?

I’d much rather live without music. I don’t even know who I’d be without TV. Like, literally.

37. What do you say during awkward silences?

I mean, it’s not like I say the SAME EXACT THING every time I encounter one…

39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?

Target, Hot Topic, Claire’s, and some independently-run businesses in my hometown. Oh, and Michael’s! And IKEA. (Good God do I miss going to IKEA.)

41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

Noooo no no no no no no.

43. Do you smile at strangers?

What kind of monster do you think I am⁈ Of COURSE I smile at strangers!

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?

The fact that I don’t wanna waste my parents’ money by not going to class.

47. Have you ever been high?

Nope!

49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?

Yeah. It wasn’t something awful, but I’d still prefer to keep it to myself.

51. Ever wished you were someone else?

That sounds horrible! No!

53. Favourite makeup brand?

Uhhhh, the one with the… Hard Candy? Rock Candy? You know the one I mean.

55. Favorite blog?

I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but I do really enjoy @pics-that-make-you-go-hmm.

57. Favorite food?

Uh, coffee creamer, probably.

59. First thing you ate this morning?

French fries‼︎

61. Been suspended/expelled? [If so,] for what?

Nope.

63. Ever been in love?

Yeah, I think so. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience though.

65. Are you hungry right now?

I’m STARVING.

…why, do you have food?

67. Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter. Facebook has always felt like a chore to me, tBH, because I only ever check it when my mom tells me to.

69. Are you watching TV right now?

Nah, man. I’m not multitasking at all right now.

71. Craving something? What?

Remember when I said coffee creamer was my favorite food? I’m craving coffee creamer.

73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

Oh hell yeah!

75. Favourite animal?

Toads, probably. Also frogs, bees and bunnies.

77. Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla (usually).

79. What colour shirt are you wearing?

I’m wearing a black tank top with a green and blue skelly on it!

81. Favorite TV show?

I’m really into The Dick Van Dyke Show right now. My mom and brother got me into it over spring break.

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?

I’ve only seen Mean Girls.

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?

Wow, uh… Janis, I guess. IDK, I’d probably need to watch it again to be sure. It’s been a really long time.

87. First person you talked to today?

My friend Eli!

89. Name a person you hate.

I… can’t. I mean, I could, but it wouldn’t be someone I’d actually met or interacted with personally, you know?

91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?

Yeah—a carbon copy of myself. She’d be into it.

93. How many [pairs of] sweatpants do you have?

Just two, I think. Wait, no! Three. I have three pairs of sweatpants (not counting the pairs I left at home when I went to college).

95. Last movie you watched?

I think it was the documentary Not Your Negro. I saw it with my mom over spring break.

97. Favourite actor?

J.K. Simmons, of course!

99. Have any pets?

Yeah, I have an English bulldog named Dilly!

101. Do you type fast?

I type quickly, but I never learned how to do, like, home position or any of that shit.

103. Can you spell well?

I’d say I’m about average. I don’t trust my spelling instincts at all, though, so I always end up looking words up even when I’m right.

105. Ever been to a bonfire party?

No, I don’t think so!

107. Have you ever been on a horse?

No, but I’ve been on a pony.

109. Is something irritating you right now?

YES.

111. Do you have trust issues?

113. What was your childhood nickname?

“Boonie.”

115. Do you play the Wii?

Not frequently. I do not own the Wii.

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?

I don’t eat meat, but I like it in theory, sure.

119. Favourite book?

That would be The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury.

121. Are you mean?

Sometimes. But only to boys who won’t shut up.

123. Can you keep white shoes clean?

I mean, I’ve never tried, but I’m sure I could…

125. Do you believe in true love?

As opposed to… what? Fake love?

But yeah, I do. My parents are in true love. I can’t not believe in it when it’s right in front of my face all the time.

127. What makes you happy?

Pretty colors. My brothers. Getting asks. Frogs with happy faces. Astrology.

129. What[’s] your zodiac sign?

My sun sign is Scorpio. (In case you’re interested, here’s my entire chart!)

131. Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

I don’t know‼︎ This is a real thing that’s happening in my life right now and I have no idea what to do about it.

133. Favourite lyrics right now?

I really love the lyrics to “Blood in the Water” from Legally Blonde: the Musical.

135. Dumbest lie you ever told?

You’d have to ask my mom about that one.

137. How tall are you?

I’m the same height as Regina George!

139. [Do you prefer] brunettes or blondes?

I’ve always had a thing for blondes, but it’s not like I actually give a shit about hair color when I’m crushing on a person.

141. [Do you prefer] night or day?

Right now I prefer nighttime. It’s when I get to relax.

143. Are you a vegetarian?

Sure am! I’ve never eaten a bite of meat in my life.

145. [Do you prefer] tea or coffee?

Coffee. Because coffee is for grown-ups and that’s exciting.

147. [Do you prefer] Mars [Bars] or Snickers?

I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to them both! (I like Kit Kat bars, though.)

149. Do you believe in ghosts?

Yeah. No way are those guys not real.