Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz

Today started early and I am betting it's going to end pretty early, too. I am exhausted. Exhilarated, but exhausted. Since my wife, Jessica, dropped me at Cow Palace at 5:15 AM until this moment sitting here Santa Cruz's in Harvey West Park, every minute has been an absolute blast.

We rode out Skyline Boulevard through San Francisco, eventually up and over Highway 92 into Half Moon Bay, and then along the Highway 1 all the way to Santa Cruz. Officially the distance is 79.4 miles; I clocked in at 82.5 miles with the loops in and out of rest stops.

And now for the photos!

The gear trucks lined up this morning at the Cow Palace. Lettered A through M, each contains luggage and tents for 150 participants.

Safety first! Look at all those reflectors this morning at bike parking.

Opening Ceremonies with the CEO of the SF AIDS Foundation. The announced participation for ALC8 was 2180 riders, 550 roadie providing support, and over $10,500,000 raised. For all of you who donated: THANK YOU! What a huge difference a group of people can make!

MOOOO! The herd of cyclists waiting to ride out and get under way. (Herd...moo...it's the COW PALACE, cut me some slack!)

The line of riders passing under a bridge on Alemany Blvd in San Francisco

Riding through the fog at the top of Skyline in Pacifica.

My parents came out from Pleasanton and met me at Rest Stop 2 in Half Moon Bay. Hi Mom! Hey Dad!

Jan Wexner, co-captain of the PG&E Power Pedalers. Jan is a roadie handling the lunch stops all week long. here she directs cyclists into bike parking at San Gregario State Beach.

Riding down Highway 1 towards Pescadero.

Our other co-captain: David Haya!

The route drops down to Waddell State Beach. After a foggy and overcast morning, the sun came out on the southern part of the route. Cloudy weather is great for biking, but it takes sun to make the landscape shots look good.

There's an unofficial rest stop called "The Pie Lady." It's just after Davenport, near the end of the route. They have a simple policy: one free slice of pie for every rider that stops.

Ooh man, after 75 miles of biking, nothing tastes better than a slice of free pie. What you don't get from this picture is the boom box blaring out Rick James' "Superfreak." Free pie and some atmosphere!

Here's the tent city at Harvey West Park. I got in around 2 PM, so it's still pretty empty. By 6 PM it will be row after row of nylon and fiberglass. And freshly-showered cyclists sated on all-you-can eat chicken parmesan.