Day 7, Ventura to Los Angeles, 69 miles & we FINISH!

Day 7, campers wake up practically on the beach. It was a tad bit foggy but cleared up quickly.

The ride out is on a trail, just a short bit by the beach, to exit the campground. 

Ike & Mike rode out together.

The 1st 2 rest stops are on the side of Highway 1 in Cal Trans pull outs.

Before RS 1 is a pull out at Port Migu Missile Park. It is early in the morning and most cyclists don't go in further than the entrance where this plane is.

 Valerie with a great selfie at a rest stop. Love the reflection in her glasses of her arms. 

Like a heart around her face

We used to have lunch in Malibu, across the street from Pepperdine University.

The city changed their policy and now no charity events can use that park.

  So we ride down highway 1, 25 miles to Will Rogers State Park. There are some chairs provided, but most riders sit wherever they can to eat. The beach is right there, so some sit and watch the waves while they eat. This is Jamie, Jan & Ike at lunch.

Mother & daughter, Jan & Emilia saw each other for a minute and took a photo, lunch Day 7.

Keith & Tom at the finish line.

Jan, Jamie & Ike crossing the finish line, as the announcer called us out as Team PG&E.

Day 6, Lompoc to Ventura, 89 miles & Paradise Pit

Day 6 is often a favorite for many. We have made it almost all the way through, the City of Santa Barbara and their mayor host an ice cream party, and we camp on a beach.
The miles seem easy, after what we've done so far, we have a long fun (for most) descent, and we ride along the amazing and beautiful California coast much of the day.

Rest Stop 2, on Day 6, can be a challenge. Cal Trans and the CHP coordinate a closure of a lane on a bridge on 101. The riders are held at this stop until 9am. This is a pano, thus it's bent. Those arriving early can put their bike on a rack, the rest wait in a long line. The riders are only released 10 at a time to prevent piling up, on the dangerous and steep descent that stretches US-101 connecting Lompoc with the Pacific Ocean. See mile 17 to 22 above.

Luckily the view is nice and if someone holds your bike you have time to run to the toilet or get a snack. Day 6 means we are almost done and everyone feels that sense of accomplishment.

After the descent, which many find exhilarating, we have an easy rest of the day. Lunch is in a beautiful park in Goleta, with lots of grass to sit on, followed by an easy ride to Rest Stop 3. Many skip RS3, to head out 4 more miles to Paradise Pit. This is an event in a city park, that the Mayor of Santa Barbara hosts an ice cream/cookies bar for the riders. They have about 8 flavors plus home baked everything. They have a donation jar, which is filled with riders helping fund the following year. This is a tradition the cyclists look forward to.
   
After dinner we gathered together other team members. Emilia, David, Jan, Sam & Valerie.

Emilia, Valerie, Jan

Valerie, Ike, Jan, Rick, Mike and Jamie, all our riders this year.

Roadie Tom, Rider John and Roadie David

Ike took this photo of the vigil. Those attending pick up candles at a designated spot in camp then walk silently to the beach. The vigil reminds everyone of why we ride or volunteer. It's the perfect time to shed tears if they are needed and bring an end (almost) to the week.

 

Day 5, Red Dress Day, Santa Maria to Lompoc, only 41 miles

Day 5 became Red Dress Day years ago. It started as Dress Red, so that aerial photos appeared like a red ribbon as we rode up the winding roads of that day. This one was taken when it wasn't too crowded on the hill. I've ridden up when it is a solid line. Photo by Stevo Rood.

Often friends and teams get elaborate with the dress up idea. Our team members this year, only wore red jerseys, no costumes. And, it's often cold in the morning and windy in the afternoon which can make costumes problematic to ride in. Another reason it's a short day.

Valerie took these at rest stops.

Emilia with her father, retired PG&Er David Haya

Emilia & Rick, who has ridden 9 yrs.

This is the profile. You can see there are a couple tough hills for a 40 mile day. The distance each day is set on the routes the city's and state let us ride on, as well as where 3000 people can camp.

This team theme dressed as flight attendants and were a big hit.

Sam, our Moto Team member, on a corner at the start of a hill with Jan. Moto is a very coveted, and limited team, only 32 of the 550 Roadies get to ride their motorcycles. 

We are proud to have him on our team this year.

Emilia with 2 riders who volunteer with Jan and Dave, all year, to help train cyclists,

 from the Awesome Ahead training group in Sunnyvale.

These staff members were on the side of the road to cheer us on after a climb.

He told us he bought an 80's wedding dress and dyed it red.

He said he'd never attempt anything like that again.

His patio was stained, probably permanently.

Ike, Jamie & Emilia at lunch. Because riders finish so early on Day 5, 

they are encouraged to hang out at lunch until camp opens after 1pm.

Day 5 worked out for most of the team to get together for dinner and photos.

Because Day 5 is short we managed to get most of the team together at some point for some photos.

Sally, David, Jan, Keith, Emilia, Tom and Jamie
And, a feature of Day 5 is the Bunny Lady. She fosters animals,
last year she brought a possum with her bunnies and kittens.
She brings 2 baby carriages with lovable pets for the riders who are missing their own.
Emilia got her bunny fix (missing her own pet rabbit) with these two adorable pets.

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.