The other riders awoke to an early ride out of the farm. Happy to not see frost outside, we headed a cool 10 miles to receive a warm welcome from the Oak Valley Elementary School 5th graders complete with signs each child had made.
Our volunteer crew facilitated a Protecting Your Coast workshop after a slideshow with the 5th graders (who recently attended the Ambassadors of the Environment program at El Capitan Canyon). After seven rotations of different activities on non-point source pollution (pollution coming from a non-stationary source), we were even able do a small trash clean up on school grounds. Oak Valley students were asked solutions to help protect our oceans and hopefully came away with a greater understanding of our role in these pertinent and prolific issues.
On our way home we were lucky enough to get even more donations from Amy at New Frontiers Market in Solvang. We teach students every day that everything runs on energy, and we are so very thankful for the food donations we have for our human powered energy on our bicycles.
At this point in the trip, it’s especially nice to have great produce, which both Noey and New Frontiers have generously contributed.It was after 1pm before we finally left the farm, reluctant to leave the view of sustainable living in practice, seen through a cobb house, home grown vegetables, and fields of grapes on a farm. But, leave it we did, in the hopes of making it up and over the San Marcos Pass, a mountainous ride, to head into Santa Barbara before dark. Once into Santa Barbara we separated to various home stays, weaving our way through town with bike lights and impending darkness, happy to have warmth and friends around us.
Thanks to everyone hosting us- the hot showers, bowling, hot tubs, home cooked meals, and maybe even beds- what a treat.
Miles traveled today: 55
Written by 2nd time bike-tripper: Abigail Johnston
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