The herald., 1895-05-06
A BICYCLING EXPEDITION
From Los Angeles to Ventura and Return
ty Wheel

From Los Angeles to Ventura and Return
by Wheel
Apropos of the recent shaking up and
suspension of 'pure Glass Az boys of
California. the narrative of three As-one
of them now under uspension-and one
B, who rode $50 miles and crossed three
mountain ranges for the purpose of at
tending a little six or seven mile road
race, where the first time prize consisted
of watch valued at $50 and the second
of cyclometer, might be interesting, ana
certainly would show that it was pure
love of the sport which brought them,
and not the hope OF a successful pot
hunt
The race was to be at a picnic Of the
Caledonian society of Ventura, and as
the thistle is distinctly Scotch. the This
tie team thought they ought to be repre-
sented there, especially as several other
makers of wheels thought they would take
quiet sneak and bag the race. SO. as
car-fare is high in California and funds
scarce, Emf Ulbricht, 4. W Cleaver.
William Yeoman and Godfrey Schmidt
concluded to ride there on their wheels.
The distance is ninety miles by railroad
but by wagon road the numerous detours
necessary on account of the mountains 1T
certainly must be 10 to l20 miles. Start
ing on Sixth street, Los Angeles, passing
by pretty Westlake park into the Cahu-
the pass through the mountains. pref
tier and peasanter ride could not be
wished than through the Cahuenga pass,
and on reaching the summit a fine view
can be had of Los 4 geles, lying in the
valley below. From the summit to the
EncinO ranch is all down grade, and
fine scorch we made of it,
At the latter place we expected to get
dinner and so stopped at the little COM
bination saloon, grocery and eating
house, kept by a Frenchman, and asked
if we could get dinner there. Being as
ured of it. we sat down in the dirty lit
tie dinlngroom, and the food was brought
before us. consisting of jackrabbits fried
in garlic!
A nice chunk of fat pork left in the
greasy water it was cooked in, bread nice
and so!id-Yeoman said it was just like
he used to get in the mines of Montana
when each man took turns at being cook
and SOUP our host said was "bOull-
ion" but | claim it was the same water
that the pork was cooked in, with the adj
dition of some pieces of bread and color
ing matter. We managed to get some
fresh eggs cooked, and with these, and
some cheese and bottled beer, made out to
sa isfy ourselves. With an earnest in
vita tion from mime host to stop on
our way back. we proceeded on our way.
Our road then lay through hills and
valleys to Gala abasas, which place con-
q
the proprietor of which was the justice OF
the peace, and. as the sign read. Ell Al.
calde" OF the township. We stopped for
a drink (of water) and directions and
found the judge playing poker with
some of his ito be tried offenders of the
district. and they very kindly stopped
the fascinating game long enough to give
us directions. After leaving here our
road commenced to go skyward with
great rapidity, and much to our disgust
We were compelled to walk a great deal
of the steep grade, although the Dutch
man, as we boys affectionately call En- il
Ulbricht, much to our admiration would
persist in riding up hills we considered
unrideable. and waiting at the top for us
poor 'dubs.' This range of mountains,
the Canajo, finally crossed, we had down
grade through the valley and a beautiful
country, with live oaks on each side OF
the tine road giving US delightful shade.
We made fine time on this raud and got
to Ru chard's ranch at the beginning OF
the short grade. at supper time, and
the hospitable German lady who is mis-
tress there, gave us a fine supper of beau
tiful bread, butter, eggs, beans, ETC.. and
kept bringing on more until our seem-
ingly Unsuitable appetites cried enough.
and Yeoman was afraid that on account
of the quantity of food and delicious
butter milk he had partaken of he would
be unable to ride any more. We laid our
good fortune at securing such a good
meal to Ulbricht, who being German, had
talked TO our hostess in her own Ian
guage, whereat she was so pleased that
she opened her heart and larder.
Before we started Pinto" Billy-you
all know him. of course-ha1 given us
particular ms ructions to take the short
grade road but on the advice of our
hostess we took the long grade" road
which took us out of the mountains the
wrong way and much to our sorrow we
toO 70 tlat
road to Hueneme pronounced Wynema)
and there, after riding on miserable
road and walking two miles of sand, we
arrived at p. M, too late to get to Ven
tura that night, so we stdid there over
night at the Seaside hotel, and started fol
Ventura the next morning. We had gone
twenty miles farther by our mistake and
on poor sandy roads by not following
"Pinto's' advice and we swore that
after that experience we would follow mis-
advice in all things pertaining to cycling,
for he is authority on that in California.
From Hueneme to Ventura is fifteen
miles and the Santa Clara river to ford
which latter proceeding was very refre
hing after our hot ride, and as we were
compelled to partly disrobe to accomplish
it, carrying our wheels and clothes on
our hacks. we concluded to take u swim
also, enjoying 1t very much.
We reached Ventura at 10 a. m. ant
found all the boys arrived and arrivinl
for the race. which came off next morn
ing. In spite of our long and fatigun,
ride, much to our qualification Ulbrich
won first time prize and Cieaver second
The race finished at the Casitas picni
grounds and the boys stayed all day tax
ing in the various sports ana Incl
dentaly dancing with the numerou
pretty Scotch lassies in attendance, goinj
back to town with the conviction tha
we'd had a pretty good time. Most o