Day 4, Paso Robles to Santa Maria, 88 miles

Breakfast opens each day at 4:00am for the Roadies and 5:00am for cyclists. The Paso Robles Mid State Fair grounds is our campground for Day 3, so breakfast indoors on Day 4. This is the line to get the gourmet (really) breakfast.

The cyclists line up at 6am to ride out. The Funky Monkeys, a team of over 90 had some riders behind Jan singing.

Depending on how early you line up to exit camp, you could wait 30-60 minutes to get on the road.

Sam is on Moto, the 32 team crew, volunteer on their motorcycles all week, to keep riders safe at dangerous road crossings. This is rest stop 1, where Jan found him for his brief break.

The rest stop on the side of the highway was a country store.

Tough but beautiful sunny climb up the Evil Twins as they are nick named.
I think they should call them the Tricky Triplets, because when you think you are done with the 1st one, there is a false flat before it’s done.
Valerie at the top of one of the Evil Twins.

All the team took photos at the 1/2 way mark.

Mike was the 1st of the team to the top.
After the 1/2 way to LA hill there is a long steep hill where riders are released 10 at a time for safety. That’s  200+ waves of riders.

  

Emilia, Larry & Taylor were all Roadies from our team on Sweep. They can boost riders too scared or unable, to make the 4-5 mile steep descent.

After the descent is a distance sign for another photo op.

Some folks don't want to wait in line at the 1/2 way point, top of the hill. 

This is also a 1/2 way to LA marker.

Ike did both, top and bottom of the hill photo op.

The town of Cayucos has an amazing Brown Butter bakery. 

David & Emilia, Roadie Sweeps, picked up dozens of cookies for the team.

Lots of riders also stop in Pismo Beach for Cinnamon buns or ice cream.

Rest Stop 3 is in a PG&E facility parking lot, that is gifted form PG&E to use for the day.

Jamie with the energy Education sign.

This is the top of a hill. The folks who live here draw a line in the street.
One side is Northern California and one side is Southern California. They cheer riders on all sides.

Santa Maria, our 4th night of camping. Each truck carries 150 bags. Every participant has a truck letter and a number assigned to their bag. Tents are shared by 2 people.

Day 3, King City to Paso Robles, 66 miles

Day 3 is Quad-buster. It's a big hill, even by East Bay rider standards. Starts out with a 7 mile, steady, not too steep climb. Suddenly you have 1 mile left of between 6.5 and 9+% grade. There is lots of cheering at the top. And some folks do have to walk for a bit while they rest. My saying, "I've never met a hill I can't walk up" is true. Luckily I train in the East Bay and I'm ok with Quad-buster. No one from the PG&E team had to walk up.
Leaving camp on Day 3 is a long trail, some of it sand, so if too crowded, cyclists have to walk a bit. this was taken from Emilia's sweep vehicle on the road, as she drove to the route.

Top of Quad-Buster, some riders stop to rest and cheer others to the top.

This is a panoramic shot of the top of Quad Buster

Jan and Mike, at rest stop 2, after quad-buster. There are usually 4 rest stops, plus lunch each day.
Some days have extra water stops, or 1 less rest stop.

             

John and Jan finding shade for a few minutes after a climb in the base. 
We then ride by their military museum. 

   The Bradley School district, partners with ALC to raise money, to fund their schools programs. The community and district are very small. This fundraiser has grown over the years from raising less than $10,000, to raising over $70,000 this year. They serve burgers, tacos and hot dogs for for a flat, tax-deductible donation of $10.00. Then for a big donation of $100.00, you can have it served to you, inside their air-conditioned school building. It was 103 degrees in Bradley when we were there.

A few years ago when 101 washed out the route was changed. Now, after lunch in Bradley, we ride through Camp Roberts military base.

Ike posing with his bike on top of the tank.The rest of the day is filled with bumpy roads, fields with hat, vineyards and mountains.
The weather was very hot.

  

  "The Bunny Lady" is a woman with pet bunnies who brings them along with whatever she is fostering to the event in baby carriages. The riders enjoy holding and playing with them.
Dinner is served inside a hall at the Paso Robles Mid State Fair Grounds where we camp for the night. It is the only meal of the week in a room instead of a giant tent.