Shoreline Highway

California State Route 1 is famous for good reason. I plan to become more familiar with its ins and outs, and especially its ups and downs, starting now. As of last week, I've moved out of San Francisco, and into a small place in Marin. Highway 1 is now my driveway. Turning left out the front door, I can go to San Diego, or turning right, to Olympic National Park. I would love to do either of these trips, especially by bike, someday.  But for now it's my bike commute, and will be the road to exploration of beaches, valleys, mountains, and who knows what else.  

California State Route 1, Marin County, 2009.

 Still without internet service at home, I am using the Mill Valley Public Library's excellent free wifi. I biked here the long way,  opting for a +/- 1000 foot elevation gain, rather than the roughly +/- 300 foot elevation gain. (clicking this link might work - it will take you on a Google Earth 3D tour of the route if you have Google Earth plugin.)

Now my bike sits outside, unlocked, and I'm only a little nervous. Another person's much nicer bike was sitting next to it, also unlocked. This is a world of difference from the Mission, where on the weekend before I left, my "bar bike" was lifted. It was literally lifted -- It had been locked to a tree cage that, when disassembled at about six feet off the ground, allowed the thief to lift the bike over the tree stake.  I'm going to miss that bike.