Monterey Weekend

We spent the long holiday weekend in Monterey. The main purpose for the trip was to have some fun, of course, but Jen and I also wanted to try out our "Cozumel Project" single speeds in a travel scenario.

We arrived Friday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. Since we couldn't check in to our hotel until 4:00, we rode down to the wharf and had some food. Jen and I enjoyed some chowder in a bread bowl while Spencer opted for a slice of pizza.

The next day we rode north on the bike trail.

The morning temperature was a bit cool, but the forecast was for highs in the low 70s.

Towards the end of the bike trail there are a few pieces of fun singletrack.

I even coaxed Jen into railing some.

The boy looks good on his new 24-inch-wheeled Felt.

The three of us cranked out a little over 20 miles and we really enjoyed the riding and the scenery.

Later in the day we headed to Santa Cruz. I had never been to the Boardwalk. It made the clientele at the state fair seem downright charming by comparison.

Jen blasts me with a laser as I return fire with the camera flash. Probably not the only exchange of gunfire that night.

Sunday came and we again rode north. It was cool and overcast to start.

More trail riding.

Eventually the marine layer burned off, temperatures climbed and smiles were more frequent.

After three straight days of riding, the boy faded a bit at the end of the 22-miler. Still, he gutted it out and didn't complain.

We watched a couple of these guys for a bit. It looks like fun.

After the ride we spent a few hours at the aquarium before dining at Louie Linguini's on Cannery Row.

On the last day we went for a short spin before checkout. Here the boy poses in front of some local "artwork."

Monterey shot from the north.

All told we rode 62 miles over the weekend. It wasn't a lot for the adults, but it was like boot camp for the boy. He will sleep well tonight.

Jen loves her single speed. The bikes worked well in a vacation setting, meaning we were taking in the scenery at a relaxed pace—not hammering out training miles. I feel the bikes could be geared a bit higher, but that is something we can play around with. Otherwise, the bikes fulfilled their purpose of being simple, durable and easy to maintain.

We are pretty sure we will take the plunge and have the couplers installed.

Later.