Day 14 Carlsbad to Mexico Border-The Finish Line

Miles 54.37 (Total 667.40)

Climb 1,400 (Total 26,480)

What a nice ride to finish up the trip.  It was beautiful weather and our "predominantly" southern winds pulled through.  Do you remember me complaining about the winds blowing from the south? Well that day I was complaining was the last day that we struggled with those winds.  I think since then, we have had the winds in our favor.

If there was any drawback on today's ride (and the last few days for that matter) is cars parked along side the route we are riding. With the traffic, we have to ride quite close to the cars and I am always worried that someone will open the door right in front of me.  I am always looking to see if someone is in the car and then I am a little more careful around them.

It was mostly a day of traveling through cities. Of course, the big one being San Diego.

Still riding along the pacific.

Which way do we go?

To help get through San Diego, we took a ferry to Coronado and then rode a bike path from there to South San Diego to the Mexico border.  We didn't go to the border in which all the traffic goes and comes from Mexico, but to the most Southwest corner of the US by the sea.  There isn't many people at this monument, but it was interesting to see.

The ferry.

There are a lot of naval ships in the San Diego Bay.

This one was just coming in.

Pretty cool sight.

Coronado.  Pretty much a tourist trap.

I though this tree was interesting.

Last road to ride.  This road heads to the coast between US and Mexico.  It gets its name from a monument that we were not able to see that established the border between the two countries. It was established in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the two countries.

Tijuana, Mexico.  See the wall.

 

Finished. That stadium is the "bullring by the sea".

My good friend Bill.

 

Van loaded with bikes to head back to hostel in San Diego.

Beach at the border.  I didn't get a picture of it, but the fence actually goes out into the sea.

After loading things up, we had to deliver a few riders to hotels and then unload things at the hostel.  I had to take apart the bike and put things back in the box to ship home and then at 7:30, we met for our farewell dinner for the group.  We met at an Italian restaurant and had a nice evening talking about the last two weeks.  I have mentioned this before, one of the best things about trips as this is the people you meet and the friendships that are made. Something about bicycling together and helping each other out, you get to be close.