Day One - Cow Palace, Daly City to Santa Cruz.

Day one starts with an opening ceremony at 6:00am at the Cow Palace. The CEOs of the San Franciso AIDS Foundation and LA LGBT Center announce the money raised so far this year. A parade of flags is carried in with a riderless bicycle representing all those lost to AIDS and HIV. Everyone is reminded to take care of each other and be safe. It is a very emotional start to the week.

This year, as of ride out $16,139,537.00 was raised by 2500 cyclists and 600 volunteers.

We always see really strange and odd "stuff".

Some of the fun of the ride is the craziness with cheerleaders along the roads. This was the only one dressed as an actual cheerleader. Some supporters dress in costumes, but many are ordinary people thanking us for what we are doing. This was taken by a lighthouse on highway 1, beautiful scenery all day.

This is camp. Bike parking, tents and port-a-potties in the background. In the forefront, what looks like 3 giant blue cups, are water dispensers, or water monsters. They are located throughout camp and all the rest stops. We are constantly filling our water bottles from them. They are less expensive and more environmentally sound than gallon jugs.

This is the nightly news in the super large dining tent. Lights out is 9:30.