California scenery, photos by Isabelle

One of our strongest riders, Isabelle, has an eye and enjoyment of taking photos, with her iPhone, of amazing sunrises and California scenery. Here are some of he photos for the week. I can't tell you exactly where each was taken, but I can say, she got off her bike lots of times to enjoy the areas we rode through. THANK YOU ISABELLE!

Day 3, King City to Paso Robles, 66 miles

Day 3 has several very special stops. We start by climbing "Quad Buster". Some cyclists do it multiple times usually in memory of friends who have passed. We wait at the top to cheer on others.

The 550 volunteers on the ride, called Roadies, are assigned for the entire week to a team. There are about 25 at each rest stop and lunch. Each Roadie team picks a different theme each day and dresses up for the rider's entertainment. This was the Dorothy theme that day at rest stop 1.

Isabelle, Julio and Jan found each other for a photo at the RS1 before we climbed Quad Buster.

Isabelle was the first to the top and took photos of us.

Laura was all smiles to see us cheering her on.






Jan, Isabelle & Julio goofing off at a rest stop with old farm equipment.
We had lunch in Bradley, an almost ghost like town that supports it's school district with fundraising from selling burgers and other items to ALC riders.

After lunch we rode through Camp Roberts, the largest California National Guard training installation in the state. They allowed us to take photos in the museum and on the old tanks.

Isabelle, always ready for adventure, mounted the biggest tank in the lot. 

Then she encouraged Julio to get up there too & pretend to use the gun.

Of course we had to get Julio, an ex-Lineman, to pose with the antique transformer. 

He was a good sport about it.

Isabelle ventured into the museum briefly.

This is Mission San Miguel where we had another rest stop.

Wonder where 2500 bikes go at the end of the day? On racks and racks and racks. They are then scanned for the riders who can't remember the next day where they parked, so they can check in the morning via computer, to find their bikes.

In Paso Robles, at the Mid State Fairgrounds, we camp for the night and get our only indoor meal of the week.

Rootbeer floats are served by the staff. Rick was back in time to enjoy one.

Day 2 - Santa Cruz to King City, 109.5 miles

Day 2 is our longest Day, relatively flat, with very intense winds and rough agricultural roads. The orange clothing is representative of the "Safety Day" theme. Isabelle sported that curly wig all day on her helmet.

Emilia & David worked as Sweep in the Mocha Madness van. All week they boosted riders who needed assistance for,
1) mechanical,
2) emotional,
3) physical reasons.

You can see by the flags how strong the winds were.

The Otter Pop Water Stop is at Mission Soledad, founded in 1791. The Otter Pops are a true treat.
Isabelle, Brandon, and Jan getting love from the "Bears" at the stop.

Cookie Lady is a legend on the ride, now part of the Water Stop. She bakes homemade cookies all year and freezes them to have enough to give out to the 3000 participants. Her entire family assists her at the event.

Isabelle, Jan & Julio tried to get a photo with the portapotties in the background. They were a sponsor of the ride and had an advertisement on them for a diarrhea medication, which we found amusing.

Rest Stop 4 we still had big wind, but needed one more break before finishing the >100 miles.

Emilia & David ran into Jan there while getting more ice. It was a really long day for all.
We were glad to see Leo, one of our Roadie team members serving us dinner.

Day One-Cow Palace to Santa Cruz, 6/3/18

Opening ceremonies at the Cow Palace, pre-ride out; the big screen showed how much has been raised so far. More donations will continue to come in all week. The riderless bicycle is then carried down the center isle in silence to represent those no longer with us.

Isabelle & Jan, just before ride out at the Cow Palace.

Brandon, Isabelle, Jan, Julio, managed to find each other at Rest Stop 2.  

Mia, Jan, Isabelle, Lunch stop

Julio, Jan and Brandon, flanked by Training Ride Leaders, not riding this year, but cheering us on at the Lighthouse on Highway 1.  We are under way, and at Rest Stop 2, Brandon, Isabelle, Jan & Julio all found each other.

Emilia & David, Sweep Roadies, also stopped for a shot with these energetic, moral boosting, roadside entertainers.

 Rest Stop 4, Brandon posed with the volunteers dressed as Hotel Concierge.

Keith & Tom both worked all week as Traffic Roadies, directing cyclists, mostly in and out of camp, but other places as well.

Tent city, not completely set up yet. When done there will be 1600 tents.