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Day 2 started
out great. Woke up bright and early to beat the crowds. In the morning
you hear a few alarms go off around you and some shuffling of other
persons. It was neat that all of us were all doing the same thing to get
ready for our day. Today is the 109 mile day. How does one get ready??
I
chose to sleep with my cycling clothes for the next day in my sleeping
bag. This way they will be all hot and toasty when I wake up. I change
into my shorts, jerseys, leg and arm warmer's in my tent, then throw on
sweats and a sweater to tromp out to the dining tent. This way after breakfast you go straight into getting ready to ride! Of course, like
magic, breakfast is hot and ready to go (eggs, potatoes, oatmeal, fruit,
juice, milk, coffee, etc.) And it was good and plentiful! At breakfast,
you get a daily newsletter telling you what to expect that day. Route,
weather (sunny and 20% chance of rain), lunch and dinner menu,
inspirational story, etc. The process is smooth and quick. I then stop at the porta potty. I must tell you I was nervous to use these. But after a couple times, I loved them! They were so warm in their and completely clean. I actually enjoyed my porta potty experiences and will say that on a cold morning, they are a welcome place to hang out at.
Romi and I ride out. SO BEAUTIFUL! The memories are in my head, because you really cant take pics while riding. But trust that it was lush and gorgeous, just like a Puerto Rican landscape. I loved the views, smells and sights. After the coastal part we move inland and are in Strawberry fields. I cant tell you how awesome it was to have all these smells of strawberries envelope you as you ride down the road. And there was only a slight mist in the air so it felt refreshing!
Well slight mist turned into rain. And rain it did. I am not talking a drizzle, but actual rain. I have never rode in the rain before. I was drenched. The only dry part of me were my feet. So Romi and I are riding and taking it slow. No rush, we are both a little miserable, but we remind ourselves that no one said saving lives was easy. So we rode on.
We get to the artichoke stand! Yay! A staple for the ride. Not sanctioned and official, but a pit stop to have fried artichokes. They were delicious and it was nice to get off the road and in a dry place. We meet some new people and enjoy some good food!
We ride on. We are on the side of a highway with semis passing us. The shoulder is narrow, and so many bikers are going slow because of fear of the rain. I need to pass a very slow person (which actually can put you in harms way) and do so on the left. Just then, a semi passes and honks at me. This is now really scary. It is raining, the roads are wet. There are unsafe inexperienced riders, unsafe experienced riders, and pissed of motorists (though, this was one of the nicest routes I thought , even if the road was narrow).I actually think, this could be a day I get seriously injured. So I start singing. I actually did think, if there were a day to get swiped by a car and die, today could be that day. So I sing All the Lovers by Kylie Minogue. Why? It reminded me of Jose, took me to a happy place (one where I am not wet and cold) and put a smile on my face. I also promised him I would come home in one piece, safe. So I sang to remember that promise to him. Well, if i go out today, I will go out with a smile on my face singing Kylie!! But I promise you Jose, I am coming back in one piece!!
Off we go on some side streets. I am now riding and feel bumps in the road. It is raining, I am wet, pretty miserable, and these bumps are voracious. We are at a stop light and I turn left when the arrow tells me to. I almost wipe out and skid across the pavement under cars waiting at the light. Holy shit, that was scary. Romi, do I have a flat?? Sure enough I do. That is why I almost skidded out. The tire was shot. So we change the tube, just enough to get us to lunch. My first time changing a tire solo, and it is raining, and now, even my feet are wet.
We get to lunch stop. There are tons of wet cyclists huddled under the smallest of awnings we can find. Some people are in medical in bad shape, hypothermia. Everyone is in a space blanket and trash bag. It is so cold, that I huddled up with a stranger, Paul (some guy we met) and Romi. We just need body warmth. So a lot of people got to know a new person this day. The ALC staff close the route due to unsafe conditions. Romi and I really wanted to keep going and we almost did, but it was a smart decision for them to shut down the route. After a couple hours, the nearby college opened their doors to us. 1000 cyclists in a college. And then the fashion show started (silly gays). But yes, when you have a space blanket, the thing you do is a fashion show! We were there in the college four hours I believe. The American Red Cross Disaster Relief showed up with coffee and food. I have never been a disaster before :) Folks, please donate to the ARC. They were great and I am now a big believer in what they can do in disaster situations! I will donate to them for sure! After a few hours and laughs and good spirits, we all are bused out to camp. And ALC riders, they cleaned and mopped the place before we left. This is the bubble of love and humanity that we should all live in and strive to be. (Ricky, remember your bubble..... You had it before and it exists today)
What about the other 1200 riders, some were stranded on the road, huddled for warmth. One person gave a rider the sweater off his back and kept riding so that a hypothermic rider would not get any worse. The sweater and rider were found later that week, but again, bubble....
At Rest Stop 2, the church opened their doors, a pizza place donated pizzas, and the church refused any donations. After many people saying take the money, the church did but said they were going to give it to a local homeless shelter instead. They were just doing a good thing that day and didn't want to be compensated. Bubble.....
I lost 56 miles this day, so I technically only rode every mile I was allowed to ride. I was upset. This sucked. I know it was for safety. And had I rode with that bad tire (tomorrow I will find out it is really much worse than I thought) I could have been seriously injured. So putting aside the sadness of not riding each mile, I am here to save lives, not take my life in the process. So it was OK. Get to camp. Quick hot shower, dinner and bed. I am wiped.
Me changing my flat on the side of the road. Little did I know we were only about a mile from Lunch stop.
Impromptu rain jacket
Inside the college, 1000 riders
We're a disaster! (Seriously, bless the American Red Cross!!)
After the rain stopped and we were waiting for buses, some people actually started to tan. Why, not sure, it was still cold!
Before the big rain storm, rest stop 1. Beautiful beach side community.
The Tardis on the side of the road. There are a billion Sea Lions on the dock, you just cant tell in the pic. This was right when the rain really started.
Darth and Fried Artichokes!
Romi, Darth, Tardis and I with Fried Artichokes!
Me and a Fried Artichoke
Outside the Fried Artichoke stand (this is before lunch, but the rain had started.)
Rest stop 2. It was a beach party theme
More from the college. Space blanket fashion show in back!
Team San Diego in Space Blankets.
Fashion!
I was sooooo muddy from this day. That is the Tardis on my back
Tardis and I with a hot cup o joe.
Food line at camp. Believe it or not, The line moves quick. Lori Jean joked this night, apologizing to Jesus promising to ride with him and not Satan anymore. Did she jinx us??
Me warm, with food, and my Tardis :) ♥
Till next time, keep peddling!
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