315: California 2023 - Preview

The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures

09-03-2023 • 22 mins

The old song goes, "California here I come, right back where I started from..." and that pretty much sums up the next tour of 2023! On this episode I preview the four chapters of the California 2023 tour, and why this one has tons of adventure contained inside!

California 2023 - Preview

Remember how the The Missing Link created another missing link? Well, in March 2023 we're finally going to fill that in! It's a new California adventure, but with a lower case A so I don't hear from Disney lawyers...

The ride(s)

This isn't so much a linear tour as it is kind of a greatest hits of adventures in multiple chapters.

Chapter 1 - LAX to Anaheim

A transit assisted ride from LAX to Anaheim, featuring the LA Metro Green line and a fun ride from Norwalk to Anaheim on Ball Rd.

Chapter 2 - Anaheim to the Missing Link

A ride, a coastal bus fast forward and getting to flash my Marine Base ID to complete the Missing Link! Then a quick coastal train to beatiful San Diego...

Chapter 3 - Border Run Loop

A ride, a short ferry, and revisting the end-point of my 2014 tour at the Mexican border... and back!

Chapter 4 - The Mileage Run

The adventure to unlock elite status on Alaska Airlines, plus to test my Brompton gate checking systems! Plus, Northern California? Sure!
[NOTE... I will be purchasing carbon offsets for this. I recognize there's a stupidity to doing this in light of climate change, so I'm going to try to ameliorate that.]

The gear

Well, the Brompton obviously.
Ortlieb front luggage block setup
Larger drysack on the back (learned my lesson from FL - just need more capacity)
Need to be prepared for chillier temps than FL, especially in the mornings.
Rain is unlikely, but I plan to have my rain jacket as my warm outer layer
Trying very hard to reduce the amount of clothes to the bare minimum (had to pack more civilian clothes for FL and didn't use them)
Revisiting my tool bag... brought too many of the wrong things to FL (more for the Safari).

The weather

Simply glorious... Mid 60s as highs, lows in the 40s.
Hints of rain in the long range forecast?
May cycle in long pants but bring a pair of shorts

The adventures

So much fun on this trip... staying near Disneyland and grabbing a drink with a work friend after the first day.
Fun transit fast forwards (hello 2023 goals!)
Checking the box on the Missing Link (and reusing my base pass!)
Planes... trains... automobiles (bus!) AND a ferry!
The border loop
Tour Journals begin next week!