By Chris Samson

At an age when most people are encouraged to slow down, an 80-year-old Petaluma man did just the opposite — climbing aboard his electric tricycle and pedaling almost 900 miles to San Diego. 

Bob Tuttle completed the two-week trek in late August, overcoming road closures, mechanical breakdowns, and a few frustrating encounters along the way. He was in the saddle eight to nine hours a day, divided into morning and afternoon shifts. 

Tuttle, a retired nurse and disabled veteran, was inspired to undertake the trip after seeing other seniors riding e-bikes and tricycles around town. 

“I’ve been cycling since my grandfather bought me my first bike at age 4,” he said. “But five years ago I fell off my bicycle a couple of times and broke a rib, so I gave it up because I didn’t want to break a hip or a leg.” 

He started walking instead, but found it less satisfying. Then, after noticing older women riding tricycles to go shopping, he began researching electric trikes. 

Last November, Tuttle bought a Meet One tricycle, a 160-pound electric vehicle designed for stability and long-distance travel. He also purchased a two-wheeled trailer, added a solar panel and power bank for the trike, and began preparing for longer journeys with trips to Napa, Guerneville, and Sacramento. 

On Aug. 8, Tuttle began his journey south with his dog, Chula, an 18-month-old Chiweenie, riding in an open-air container behind him. 

“She loves riding in the tricycle because she can stick her head out and enjoy the fresh air,” he said. “She doesn’t like riding in a car.” 

Because tricycles are not permitted on freeways, Tuttle followed smaller highways, frontage roads, and bicycle paths. He carried a large tent and sleeping bag, camping most nights on a comfortable double air mattress and occasionally renting a motel room.

Along the way, Tuttle posted daily updates to a WhatsApp group made up of members of Charla Hispana, a weekly Spanish conversation group that meets at the Petaluma Senior Center. 

“We followed Bob’s journey every step of the way,” said Cristina Casanovas, leader of the group. “We admired his tenacity and determination to find solutions and not give up, even with the many challenges he faced.”

After spending his first night in Sausalito, Tuttle continued south through Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, and Monterey. But his plans to continue down the coast were disrupted when Highway 1 closed because of the Timber Fire in the Big Sur area. 

At a campground in Monterey he met a cyclist from England who was also headed south. Together, the two of them traveled east over the coastal mountains to Salinas and King City in the Central Valley before returning to the coast at San Luis Obispo.  

“I enjoyed climbing long hills, knowing the reward of having an exciting and fast downhill ride on the other side,” Tuttle said. “I hit 40 miles an hour a couple of times, but then I’d hit the brakes. You can’t go too fast on a tricycle because everything bounces.” 

Another challenge came in Santa Maria, where Tuttle discovered that his tricycle and trailer could not fit through the tight, zigzag entrance to a bike path. He eventually called police, who contacted the city parks department to open a side gate. 

That night, hot and tired, he checked into a Motel 6. His planned one-night stay turned into two when he discovered that a broken trailer hitch had caused a flat tire. 

Several bicycle shops declined to repair the hitch, and Tuttle briefly considered ending his trip. But on his way back to the motel, he spotted a small auto and tire repair shop. 

“The owner said yes and fixed the hitch in less than 10 minutes,” Tuttle said. He replaced the trailer's inner tube himself and continued south. 

“The most frustrating part of the trip was not being able to get help from any of the many bicycle and e-bike shops along the way,” he said. “The most challenging part was finding where to charge my four batteries.” He used the solar panel on his trailer to charge the power bank as he rode, but it could only charge one battery at a time overnight. He preferred using an electrical outlet, when available, because it charged faster. 

Not every challenge was mechanical. On one narrow stretch of road near Santa Barbara, Tuttle found himself leading a line of more than 15 cars. 

“I rode as fast as I could before being able to pull over to allow the cars behind me to pass,” he said. “Some drivers gave me the ‘peace’ sign and one or two others gave me the one-finger salute.” 

But Tuttle said the most rewarding part of the journey was meeting other cyclists and sharing the experience. 

His trip ultimately totaled 882 miles: an average of about 63 miles a day. He pedaled the entire time, with an assist from the trike’s battery.  

At the end of his journey, he celebrated with a family reunion in Alpine, about 30 miles east of San Diego, where he was joined by his sister, two brothers, nephews, and in-laws. 

Tuttle rented a truck to haul his tricycle and trailer back to Petaluma, but he is already thinking about the next adventure. 

“I’m hoping to circle the United States next spring,” he said.