Day 22, Oxnard, CA to Marina del Rey, CA.  53 miles and 1359 feet of climbing.  Another down right glorious day.  Left Oxnard and soon found ourselves on Highway 1 heading into Malibu and Venice Beach.  I wish I could come up with sufficient adjectives to describe today and this entire trip.  It has been quite a ride.  Today I found myself experiencing some very real and significant mood swings while riding.  One moment I was euphoric and down right giddy, singing Beach Boy tunes, etc..  The next moment I was choking up with tears.  It went on most of the day.  Much if it has to do with just the whole experience of being able to ride through such spell binding scenery.  It also has to do with just being eternally thankful for everything about my "charmed" life.  I am able, due to good health and adequate resources to take on adventures like this.  For that I am truly grateful.  I am also thankful for the rock solid foundation of my family.  They are the source of such joy and pride.  Leisa is always there to support and encourage me to pursue my dreams.  For dang near all of my life she has been there for me and I know that she always will be.  She is one of the most selfless people I know and I love her dearly.  My children, Sarah, Jared, Brett and Jack make me proud and grateful everyday.  You guys are the best.  Make sure that you pursue your dreams!! My grandboyz Garrett and Ezra, well they make me grin just thinking about em.  I even have two super daughter-in-laws in Cindy and Elizabeth.  I could not have hoped for two better women to love my children.  Additionally I have the distinct privilege of being part of a very strong and loving family in my mother, (the mother of all mothers!) and my sisters Janel and Joy Lee and brother Jerry.  You guys rock.  And of course there are a few nieces and nephews who are pretty cool people too.  I have so much to be thankful for!  Today was just another charmed day in my charmed life!

 

Outside of Oxnard is a huge Naval Airbase.  They have this display of missles.  Kind of looks like a cemetary.  I hope that someday all of our missle and armaments of war are in a cemetary.

 

Riding up Highway 1.  Ocean on your right.  Mountains on the left.

 

The road hugged the shoreline.  The views were incredible.  I think I set a record today with 67 photos.  None of them adequately capture the beauty and grandeur that I experienced from the seat of my bicycle.

 

All those black dots in the water are surfers waiting for that perfect wave.  There were surfer dudes and dudettess all along the route.

 

I have never seen so many gated homes as I saw along this section of the coast entering Malibu.  A lot of 10%'ers live here!  I am constantly amazed at the wealth in this country. 

 

SAG stop.  Barbara, the tour mother adjusts a riders helmet.  She looks out for everyone.  Kind of reminds me of another Mother that I know.  She frets and worries about everything and has a way of speaking her mind.  Can anybody guess what "other" mother I am referring to?

 

 

Pepperdine University on Highway 1 in Malibu.  Glad I decided not to go there as I would never have graduated from college.  I would have been down on the beach waiting for that one big wave!

 

On the Malibu peer.  Had Espresso here!

 

Arlington Cemetary West.  There is a cross here for every American soldier killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

View from the Santa Monica peer.

 

On Santa Monica peer.

 

View of ocean from Venice beach.  Venice beach was a whole different world.

 

Every evening we have RAP.  Karen gives out the next days route sheets.  After RAP tonite we had a banquet and program to mark the end of the tour.  I cannot believe it is done already. 

 

 

 

 

You may recognize this scene from the many new car adds that have been shot on this section of road.

 

See the USA in a Chevrolet..........