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Camp Pendleton

Will Sherman — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:51:51 +0000

My route south along the coast took me through the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton, a fairly deserted and scenic stretch of roads and bike paths, including this one, striped along a piece of the Old Pacific Highway.

LA River

Will Sherman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:48:44 +0000

A southern section of the LA River from the bike path I rode on my way out of town.

To Leo Carillo

Will Sherman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:18:12 +0000

As planned, I packed up and started bicycling last Friday, but got a later start than I had hoped. Rather than end up riding through Los Angeles and Orange County sprawl as the sun was setting, still searching for an undeveloped, non-gated place to camp, I decided to head for the nearest state park. From Echo Park I rode Sunset Boulevard all the way to the coast, passing through Silver Lake, Hollywood, Beverley Hills and Bel Air, where the road becomes more suited for fast fancy cars. After circling Santa Monica, I headed north on the Pacific Coast Highway to spend the night at Leo Carillo State Park. Expecting the place to be deserted, I was surprised when two other cyclists rolled in, one from London, the other a local who started a fire we talked around until all turning for the night at 8:30.

Motor Homes

Will Sherman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:34:44 +0000

Many dozens of motor homes lined the streets as I rode out to visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City.

Smile

Will Sherman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:29:17 +0000

On my first morning in Los Angeles, I walked up Sunset Boulevard a couple miles in search of last-minute supplies. After finding what I needed, plus a couple things I didn't at an Army Navy store, I bought a coffee at Intelligentsia, admired the crowd and began walking back to begin the process of building up my bicycle. As suspected, flight security found a way to thwart my careful packing by twisting my handlebars around too many times, crimping the brake and derailleur cables beyond repair. It was an easy fix and a good excuse to check Echo Park Cycles for replacements. Cruising east from Griffith Park, I encountered the first of several pedestrian tunnels for crossing oversize streets followed by the virtually unclimable Baxter Street, which only later did I discover is one of LA's steepest.

Echo Park

Will Sherman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:34:35 +0000

I left New York last week on the sort of Tuesday morning one tries to avoid facing. It was overcast, raining and cold when the cab driver arrived outside my old apartment where I was still crashing. Visibly annoyed at the pile of luggage I was bringing to the airport, he started complaining while I ignored him and focused on fitting my boxed up bicycle in his backseat. Later that day, I arrived in Los Angeles. Despite the sun and warmth, strangers still took each opportunity to complain about the so-called bad weather. After collecting my bags and bike box, bearing telltale marks that TSA had aggressively inspected and rearranged its intricately packed contents, I headed to Union Station on a bus, which offered my first look at the sprawling highways and suburbs of the city. Another cab driver took me the last few miles to my friend Julia's house in Echo Park. Not quite ready to begin reassembling my mess of bike parts or gathering the last bits of gear I'd need to bike the thousands of miles back to Brooklyn, I went back out to walk around the neighborhood with Sarah, another friend living nearby, and her dog. In the evening, a few more transplanted friends from New York took me out for tacos and margaritas. Exhausted from traveling, I went to sleep early in hopes of making the most of the time for sightseeing and errands before leaving Los Angeles. Note: I'm writing this from the road, east of San Diego after bicycling and camping down the coast of Southern California. Over the next couple of days I will add more info and an itinerary for my cross-country bike tour, a solo, self-supported ride from Los Angeles back to Brooklyn.

Under the Overpass

Will Sherman — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:07:29 +0000

While visiting folks upstate I took a walk in the woods, turning back at an old drinking spot covered in generations of cans.

Home of Sweet ‘N Low

Will Sherman — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:25:11 +0000

Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Measuring Tape

Will Sherman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:23:08 +0000

Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Blood and Christ

Will Sherman — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:21:32 +0000