The morning starts early in Santa Cruz with ride out opening at 6:15.
Natalie and friends in Santa Cruz.
One of the steepest, but shortest hills of the week, is in the morning about 5 miles after we leave camp. It hits 20% grade but just briefly. Many riders choose to walk it, which is totally acceptable. That is not one of our team mates in the photo.
The elevation isn't the most of the week by any means, but the day is long due to rough agriculture roads, lots of pot holes and high winds, not always at our backs.
This photo includes Natalie, Lori Jean, CEO of LA LGBT Center, and Rick
Moss Landing Power Plant, previously owned by PG&E is on one side of the street and the other is the harbor. We ride for about 30 miles on Highway 1, before we move inland.
Rest Stop 2, Jan & Brittany. The volunteers, called Roadies, have themes at each rest stop and a different on each day, to bring amusement to everyone. I think this was pajama morning, or maybe housewives gone crazy?
This is Cathy, a Roadie at Lunch helping cyclists know where there is bike parking available.
Day 2 is Safety Day (everyday is safety day, but this one is different) because both Cyclists and Roadies are encouraged to wear orange to remind each other how important safety is.
Lunch at Central Park in Salinas. John, Jan, Emilia and Larry. You can our orange is scarves.
David, Tim, Tom, Emilia and Jan. David & Emilia worked sweep all week. Driving a vehicle up and down a designated portion of the route to assist cyclists, for any reason they need it. Usually it's a drive to the next rest stop for aid. Mechanical, physical, emotional, etc.
You can see from how direct the flags are blowing, the intensity of the winds. This stop is a water stop at Mission La Soledad. Water stop means no snacks provided by ALC, just water and toilets and entertainment.
However, this is the famous water stop with Cookie Lady. She bakes cookies and treats all year and freezes them to serve on this special day. Her Sister and Father came to help hand them out this year. Besides cookie treats, Otter Pops are provided by the Bears, one of the ALC teams. They are a large team with lots of volunteers and riders and they raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
Jan posing with rider who rides super fast, brings different costumes on different days, and then waits at the top of a tough hill to encourage riders. This was late in the afternoon, winds were high, weather was hot and she was a welcome site. And a good excuse to stop for a photo. She also carries a little stereo to have music playing.
Showers at camp are in trucks. Plenty of hot water but sometimes lines. There were only 3 women's trucks this year but because only 30% riders are women there weren't any waits for me.
