Dec 5th - The Big Finale

Eighteen people in the Beach House is a lot, but we did it. Our agenda today was to set up a booth at the afternoon at the surf shop Patagonia in Cardiff by the Sea. We chatted up customers about protecting the ocean while Sandy from the Solana Center educated folks about composting. After a bit we got to talk to Kaley and Sandy about what their organications. Sandy talked about how the Solana Center sets up gardens and compost systems for schools and the public in the San Diego area amongst many many (many) other things. After hearing about some of the classes the center offers we got all hopped up about potentially becoming "Master Composters" accredited by the Solana Center. Hope to see you or your staff on the island soon, Sandy! Kaley from Patagonia about what makes the Cardiff store special - and it's the more ecologically minded surfboards and wetsuits. Kaley will tell you that despite it's simple appearance, surfing is by no means an ecological sport. The materials used to make surfboard foam and wetsuits can release harmful chemicals in production. Patagonia is approaching these items from a new persepctive. Extruded foam in the boards and merino wool in their wetsuits. Sound crazy? It's working. Check more out at patagonia.com

We slept in Pacific Beach with former island staff Jenna Y (thanks for the Thai J-yo) and at Alyssa's house in Ocean Beach. Alyssa left for the night and it was a good plan with 12 people sleeping in the house. People described it like playing tetrus with bodies and sleeping bags.

The next morning we met up at the ferry stations in order to go to Coronado Island. Coronado's not an island, and the school isn't there, it just makes the ride shorter rather than going around the San Diego Bay - check the google map for details. We were a little panicked when we didn't see a sign for the 8:20 ferrry we were planning on, but there's a reason why. Early in the morning the ferries are for commuters and subsidized at no cost to us! Whoo hooo! We and our bikes piled on and the boat got us there in less than 10 minutes. It was a beautiful ride down "the strand" - basically just a lane or two of highway with ocean on either side. With $3 burning a hole in our pockets from the free ferry ride, we swung into Star Dust Donuts for an early morning treat. Julie had been trying to go to a donut shop just about since we hit Santa Barbara and never really had any takers, but they sounded pretty good this morning. If in the area the "old fashioned" comes highly recommended.

Mar Vista is the only school we have visited on all four bike trips, and one of the schools that has been coming to our program on Catalina the longest. We have always felt such strong support from this group, and the same was true today. Thanks so much to the young adults in the Poseidon Academy for spending time with us. To see young minds at work you know there is hope for the future. We can't wait to see you in the spring.

Mar Vista is in Imperial Beach, the most southwestern city in the entire country and quick jog to the border. We visited the state park there on the bike trip two years ago, and we thought it'd be nice to return. We rode past the usual horse ranches, and saw a new blossoming community garden as well. The road to the very corner of the United States where the fence dividing our country from Mexico goes into the sea was too muddy to cross again this year (someday!) but we head out to the beach for some views of ocean.

We had a little celebration in the parking lot. Not the most scenic place but we had a lot to be proud about; 750 miles; safe, sound, & satisfied. Congrats to everyone on such a monumental ride.

A trip back up to the Beach House and our friends Jenna, Mary, Sam, and Owen were already there. John Leo & his oysters showed up later to celebrate too. Dinner up at the Langens was a treat as always (thanks Janice and Richie! We are blessed by you always!!!) thanks for swinging by Issac, Erin, and the tumblers Reya and Iris.