Long Beach

Our ride started off on a great note. It was Rocky's birthday, and our friends from the evening before had a home made cupcake for with...with a match for a candle!! yay! :)
and I was sure to find balloons to tie to his bike later that day.
Also birthday lunch at a Thai resteraunt.
It was Rocky's Birthday and we were determined to make it to Long Beach. We had a time change-which resulted in less day light for us to bike in, though we thought we could make it in time still. We ended up cycling for a good hour or two in the dark. We headed towards Allison's neighborhood, a friend of ours, and we pull over to give her a ring to see exactly where she lives. Then right behind us is Allison biking home from work! Perfect! We follow her home, went out to a pub for some dinner, and exchange cross country stories, as Allison also biked cross country this summer! And shared our past memories from a program we used to lead bike trips for.....
We slept in, showered, and headed to a cafe. We all sat on the Internet catching up on bills and e-mails.
Then it was out for some yummy Thai food.
You have probably learned by now we do a lot of eating and sleeping.
Linda, who you will hear much more about, has been a great supporter through the trip, a mother with two children with Autism, and a supporter of Kris' Camp, was able to reserve us complementary tickets to the Aquarium in Long Beach. I have now been to a total of four Aquarium's and this one by far is the best one I have been to. I can only imagine how great it would be to bring your children there, and children with disabilities. Everything that is able to be hands on is. We touched sting rays, small sharks, sea urchins, Sea Coral, and much more. It was pretty amazing.
Rocky spent a day in Downtown LA with a friend, Richie, who is in his first year teaching in LA through Teach for America. (which was interested as I stayed in Long Beach, we realized it is the longest we have been apart in almost three months....and it was only one day!)
Rocky and I decided that we were about ready to end our trip in Long Beach. The coast of California has been such a positive experience, we thought it would be a good note to end on. Cycling through the desert and mountains again to get to Phoenix Arizona, would have been possible, but it was more cold nights, long days, and I was ready to be with my friends in Phoenix.
So we spoke with Linda, and she agreed to pick us up and drive us into Anaheim where her and her family live. Her and her daughter, Heather, came in a large van with plenty of room for our bikes! YAY! As much as I know I will miss this trip when it is over...I am still excited to be finished!
She drove us to her parents home where we stayed for the next five days! :)