Big Sur Bike Trip Map

In the spring of 2006 I set out on a solo bike trip from Santa Cruz to San Luis Obispo through Big Sur along Highway One.

Trunk Space

I packed my bike, helmet, panniers, camping gear, tent, sleeping bag, headlight, extra tire tubes, tools for bike maintenance, food, etc. into my friend's trunk and drove from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz. I planned my camping sites to be flexible so the trip would take four or five days and I could adjust how far I wanted to ride each day. The manager at the apartment I was renting in Santa Barbara told me I "wasn't allowed to go on a four or five day bike trip by myself." Huh? I was confused... I can do whatever I want. So I left. I stayed with some friends in Santa Cruz for a few days before taking off, all of them said they wouldn't judge me if I changed my mind and decided not to go. I wasn't worried about judgement, I was excited for an adventure and some much needed alone time.

Escape South

Day one on my way south with all my camping and bike gear loaded on the back of my bike! On the first day I rode from Santa Cruz to Monterey along Highway One through Watsonville. I got lost several times but just keep looking for the coastline and following it south. Big thanks to Bill B for loaning me the panniers. They worked great!

Capitola Coast

Cloudy sky and thunderheads over the Pacific Coast in Capitola, just South of Santa Cruz. I had a long ways to go on day one but luckily I ran into a taco truck in Watsonville to refuel on calories.

Oatmeal Time

Day two is here and I'm hungry after my first night camping alone in Monterey Veterans Memorial Park Campground. Looks like oatmeal and dried cranberries for breakfast. Thanks to Grady for loaning me his camp stove and one-person tent!

Packing Up

Packing up after breakfast in Monterey before heading into Big Sur. That's a lot of stuff to fit on a bike.

Monterey Bay

Looking north from the hills above Monterey Bay as I head south into Big Sur. I remember having to take a tricky set of roads to get to Highway One without going on the freeway. Remember this was before everyone had GPS in their pockets so I was just going off a paper map! I met a homeless man in Monterey that was so impressed that I was doing this epic bike trip solo that he insisted on giving me two bucks so I could go buy a Sobe "or whatever you kids are drinking these days."

Familiar Scenery

Finally made it into Big Sur on Highway One... Looks like the rest of the Northern California Pacific coast.

Sea Foam

Looking at the ocean through trees and barbed wire off the side of the road in Big Sur, California.

Dark Coast

I worked my way south through Big Sur on Highway One, nothing but me and my bike. Those are some huge hills waiting for me to climb ahead. I remember several cars waved and honked in encouragement as they passed me while I was struggling up some very steep and long hill climbs with a ton of gear weighing me down on the back of my bike.

Erosion of Mud

California sliding into the Pacific.

Big Sur Panoramic

The beautiful California coastline along Highway One in Big Sur. It was a good day to be on a bike, headed south with the wind at my back. Interesting fact, all winds along the West Coast go north to south. Originally I had planned my bike trip from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, riding north, but Bill B convinced me that I'd be battling the wind every pedal of the way. So I reversed my direction and rode south instead. Excellent advice.

Big Sur

Looking north along Highway One at the coastline I just biked through.

Lunch On A Rock

Found a great rock to eat lunch on. Looks like peanut butter on pita bread. I hope I remembered to put on sunscreen (I didn't, I got sunburnt).

Crumbling

Following the Big Sur coastline south.

Southern Destination

Looking at the winding road ahead of me along the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the towering headlands of Big Sur.

Bixby Bridge

And old parabola bridge along Big Sur's highway, thrilling to ride a bike across.

Big Sur Headlands

Looking at Bixby Bridge in the distance to the north after a long slow uphill climb.

Once A Fence

The posts from an old fence along the road in Big Sur.

Lonely Shadows

Camping by myself after day two on my bike trip through Big Sur. I met a stranger in the restrooms at Big Sur Campground and he told me all about the meaning of life. He wanted me to come back to his campsite to hang out, I was more interested in collapsing into my sleeping bag at 7 PM after a very long day of riding.

Preparation

On day three I ate and packed once again to kick off the third day of my Big Sur bike trip. The night before the campground host had informed that there was a huge landslide just south of the campground, roads were closed, it was illegal to continue, and I was going to have to turn around. Turn around?! I wasn't about to let a landslide scare me off, so the next day I got up at first light, ate, packed, and snuck out of the campground—headed south. I ended up carrying my bike (with all my gear strapped to it) a quarter mile or more over and through a massive landslide; boulders taller than me were scattered along the road everywhere. I packed my bike over piles of rocks and fallen trees which completely obscured large sections of Highway One, forged paths with sketchy footing, and squeezed through tight gaps in the boulders. I should have gotten photos of the landslide but I was focused on just making it through unharmed. Eventually I made it to the other side, got on my bike, and kept riding. No landslide or campground host was going to stop me from continuing my journey.

Funky Old Fence

An old fence along the coast in Big Sur.

Big Sur Sky

Another shot of the Pacific along Big Sur's headlands.