Day 64, Pleasant Valley to SAN FRANCISCO! 44 miles

We woke up and smelled the coffee (Deb had the coffee maker on a timer!) A restful nights' sleep in a comfy bed followed by gourmet breakfast and first-rate company; the perfect start to our last day of our ride! Larry had bought some special carb-packed goodies for our breakfast and it was fantastic to sit chatting with him in the kitchen (when we are usually eating cereal out of plastic lunch boxes in a campsite.)

Deb emerged ready for work and still happy to drive us out to the spot where Larry had collected us yesterday. In fact both Larry and Deb took their respective cars so we could all fit. Once we were on the road, my gratitude for this selfless offer doubled... The 20 mile journey back to where we had left off would have taken us all morning -only to turn around and do it in reverse! Furthermore we were both anxious to get to San Francisco; it felt surreal to be so close to the finish line.

Once Deb, Larry Matt, myself and our bikes were gathered at the spot where Larry had met us with lemonade the day before, Matt realised he had left Cateye odometer at their home. We promised Larry this was no big deal, thanked him and Deb profusely and rode away feeling very fortunate for such epic hospitality.

Our route continued through wine and olive country, before meeting and running parallel to the Interstate towards San Francisco. We were both in high spirits and quickly ate up the 30 odd miles to the ferry wharf at Vallejo. As we waited for the 2pm ferry, a familiar voice called out 'Matt!' -and turned to see Deb rushing towards us with Matts' Cateye in her hand. First impeccable hospitality, then a morning drive back to the middle of a country road, now this. Once again: Above and Beyond!

It felt strange to be at the end of our journey, and we sat in awe as we awaited the ferry to turn into the bay to reveal the Golden Gate Bridge. Past Alcatraz Island, the famous bridge and city skyline came into view; words failed us so we mainly sat ogling and grinning.

From the San Francisco ferry terminal, we rode down to the bay for the obligatory wheel dip in the Pacific. With sand-encrusted tyres, we peddled the 6 miles to the Golden Gate Bridge. While cyling the bridge, we got chatting to a couple with similarly laden bicycles. Dan and Mary had just finished working in the kitchen at a Kayaking Retreat in Northern California. They had no house nor final destination, just their savings from the Seasons' work; their bikes and camping gear. Hearing of our trip, they insisted on joining us onwards to Sausolito so they could buy us a Champagne.

So we found ourselves talking travels and sipping Champagne with two very interesting Adventurers in trendy Sausolito. Champagne turned to beer, and we finally decided to get the ferry back across to the city to find our motel.

If only we hadn't: it was a complete dump. Having locked our bikes in the room, we fled to a nearby diner for a victory dinner. We further avoided our motel by going for coffees at Starbucks but finally had to head to bed. I hesitate to end on a sour note but the truth hurts sometimes: I awoke at 3am with my skin crawling... Bed Bugs! A cruel, painful reminder that you get what you pay for in big cities. I have since upgraded our hotel but am still suffering the itchy red welts of Cheapness.