Day 8: Ventura to Santa Monica.......the final 60 miles!

Well, the morning started with the same routine; wake up at 5:40, find coffee, get dressed, get sun screened, get packed, take bags to lobby, get bikes, check out and ride to camp.  This morning camp is right across the street and there is a buzz in the air.....the last day and everyone wants to say good bye and have a chat since it might be crazy at the end of the ride.
We are greeted by the same breakfast we have had for the last three mornings...I really wished I had had breakfast at the hotel!  Only so many bowls of sticky oatmeal and scrambled eggs!  but who is complaining!

We head off before 8AM for a flat long ride through the Ventura and Camarillo farm fields and take our first break at the Navy Air Base museum near the beach. We are in familiar grounds now - as this is a common training ride along PCH.
Tom is riding today - his leg is a little sore but almost better and he has had three days to rest - so of course he is kicking my butt!  He didn't ride 86 miles yesterday!

We head on towards the county line only to be greeted by a little bit of rain - the first of the ride - and hit the midday checkpoint - but we know where the next Starbucks is so we head off to get coffee - only to find there are three big hills waiting for us......but the last ones of the day!
As we drank our coffee we watched numerous other riders come along and join us - there is some excitement in the air to be finally finishing the ride and having gone so far in such a short time!

We get back on the bikes to navigate Malibu....a dangerous stretch as we have to watch for traffic and for parked cars and people getting out of cars......a slow steady ride to the next stop..Gladstones.  We almost didn't stop - but were glad we did - there must have been about 100 bikes there and many friends all enjoying one last beer before the finish line!
It was a quick trip from there to the park in Santa Monica where we all gather before one last long train of 250 bikes rolling through 5 miles of streets to the Yahoo! Center for the final farewell.  Huge crowds were waiting for us - and we all got a medal for finishing - and could finally say we did it....EFI.

This ride a a huge success - both for fundraising - but for endearing people to a great cause - and for creating terrific friendships.  About half of the riders this year were returning vets...and it turns out that my husband announced on the way home that he has already signed up for next year!!!  He did not sign me up...he knows better....but I sure would love to do it again!  I guess we will be training some more....and maybe I'll get a new bike for Christmas!
Thank you to all our our supporters for sending us good wishes and support along the way.  Don't be put off by the hard days...come ride with us and see the sights for yourself...if I can do it...so can you!

Day 7: Beullton to Ventura – 85.7 miles

Today was a great, challenging day!  We woke up to find out there had been some showers overnight – and were welcomed by a rainbow on our short ride back to camp  for breakfast.  I was a little nervous about the ride today – it was going to be a long day, I wasn’t feeling 100% and I was worried about going down the Gaviota Pass on the 101 freeway.

Today we ride for Francesca, a 14 year old diagnosed with juvenile RA at age 12.  She was at the finish checkpoint today – what a wonderful young lady!

Before I left camp there had been an announcement.  A mountain lion has been spotted on Alisal Canyon Road –the one we were going to be riding on in about 30 minutes! We were told to ride in pairs – but I had no riding buddies – so off I headed, hoping to find someone along the way!  Turned out that Alisal Canyon had a nice steep hill with an elevation gain of over 1350 ft. I tagged onto Olivia and Princess Gail who got me to the top!  And there at the top was a fallen deer with its hindquarter missing – looks like we found the reason for the mountain lion to be near!

After Alisal Canyon we headed south on the 101.  Scary!  A long uphill climb and then a long descent through the Gaviota Pass.  I hate to drive this portion of the road and so I took it slow whilst the tracker trailer trucks whizzed past.  First rest stop was at mile30.1 on the 101 highway.  I linked up with some Amgen colleagues and we ended up riding the rest of the day together.  Rod, Lyn and Chris – our fearless leader, since the rest of us were all newbie’s and he is a 3 year vet!  And we only got lost once, going into camp!

The back roads through Goleta and Santa Barbara were well paved (very necessary for the 7^th day in a row sitting on a bike seat!) and the weather not too hot.  We arrived at the midday checkpoint (mile 50.2) to great fanfare!  See our group picture with the princess and angel princess! 

After a short lunch break we continued on to Santa Barbara.  The weather was beautiful as we rode along the beach, past the pier and next to the zoo.  The last rest stop of the day was at mile 64.9. We all agreed that we would not push it to hard; we just wanted to finish.  And then we popped on the freeway for the last 4 miles of freeway riding….doing about 22 mph!  Our last water break was livened up by a visit from the Backroads crew – wearing vintage 80’s prom clothing…..so a picture was in order….

A quick trip back by the seaside led to a bike path that took us to Ventura.  What a terrific feeling of making it to the end of the ride today!  EFI! (Translates to Every Freaking Inch – and means not riding in the SAG wagon.)

Tomorrow is our last day- we ride into Santa Monica and celebrate our 525 mile adventure.  I am pleased to say that Tom has taken care of his leg and is feeling optimistic about riding tomorrow – I know have my riding buddy back – and we should have lots of fun.  Our children will also be happy to have us back home!