Camp was cool and buzzing this morning as we had a great breakfast and got ready for the day. I watched as folks worked on their tents and gear and was glad to have left our luggage at the hotel!
Today we ride for Kayleigh Springer- a 7 year old who was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis when she was 15 months old. We have a very large picture of her on our DRG (Daily route guide) to inspire us along the way.
We left camp around 8:20 AM - after the bulk of bikes had already disappeared. After the first big hill Tom pulled his hamstring and was in a lot of pain for the rest of the day. It meant that I got to lead the way and set the pace - but of course no more flat tires today! After about 10 miles we stopped at the infamous Norman Jeans Coffee House for a great latte! Was a welcome stop and lots of camaraderie as most of the bikers rolled in for a rest.
Then it was down the road to our first rest stop - which hardly seemed very far from the first! Maybe this ride is getting easier! After that we rode through strawberry fields and the heart of agricultural California. The heat from the previous day and the soft winds made the smell of strawberries overwhelming and it was a welcome sight to see two flats of strawberries at the midday checkpoint!
As Tom painfully went up and down the dunes near Monterrey Bay, we came across a few great sights - our first highway marker for LA.....and a beautiful view of Monterrey Bay.....It was very gratifying to see such magnificent views of the ocean - on such a perfect day.
No marital disputes today and a great sense of accomplishment! We seem to be a great team in our matching Nautica Malibu Triathlon jerseys! After a shower, rest and trip to Fisherman's Wharf, we headed to camp for dinner. Clint Eastwood donated all the food for the dinner tonight (it was delicious) from his local restaurant "Mission Ranch." We also tried out the massage therapists tonight. I wanted Tom to have his leg worked on and frankly it was a great excuse for me to get a back massage! My methods worked out as he immediately signed us up for longer sessions tomorrow in Big Sur! Yeah! (Oh - and the best part is you can run up a tab for the week.......)
Thought I'd throw in a picture of camp tonight - it was very picturesque and shows everyone what the tent city looks like. They even had portable executive showers brought in! No excuses for smelling icky!
So now that we Newbies have survived the first two days and did not get in the sag van (The origins of the term “sag wagon” are a topic for debate. Some cyclists believe that it is an acronym for “Support and Gear” or “Support Aid Group.” Others suggest that it may be related to distressed or weary cyclists “sagging”, or trailing behind the pack) the truth is coming out. Day 4 is the hardest - and we have heard tomorrow is relatively easy - only 44.5 miles. So early to bed - there is no sleeping in on this 'holiday' - as breakfast starts at 6:30 - for lots of rest. We only have one more day to gather our wits about us!
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