Day 4, Paso Robles to santa Maria, 89 miles

Day 4 we go back to the coast during the first part of the day. The highlight of Day 4, is the halfway point after we climb the "Evil Twins", which really aren't that evil or steep, just the nick name for them. This year wasn't fogged in like last and was a beautiful climb.

 Michael is the rider taking the selfie. He is so good at them with his big smile, I asked him to put himself in the shot. Such a great expression, that we were all feeling, reaching the 1/2 way mark.
Jan, Brandon, Isabelle & Julio on the rock.

Mary, a first time Roadie on Sweep Team, got a chance to pose too.                Julio, strong as ever,  did the upside down hold.

Tom & Keith, PG&E team members on the Roadie Traffic team, both 1st timers also, got to pose.

The Traffic team transports by vehicle from camp to camp, & posed with Coney, the safety mascot. You can't tell from the photo, but the other side of the rock is a steep cliff down the mountain.

Isabelle, Jan and Julio stopped at the bottom of the long, steep, 

windy descent for another photo op.

PG&E donates the use of their parking lot in Avilla for Rest Stop 3 on Day 4. Julio, Jan and Isabelle found each other there. Looks like that sign could use a fresh coat of paint.

I can't say enough about the yummy Brown Butter Cookies. Teammate Rick bought 2 dozen to share and it made me realize I should have stopped there too.

Another favorite afternoon spot is the Old West Cinnamon shop in Pismo Beach. Many cyclists stop there and sometimes folks are just handing out the rolls to cyclists.

I (Jan)  stop at a small family owned Ice Cream shop a couple of blocks past the Cinnamon shop.

This year I had Espresso Chip.

Julio & Isabelle waited for Jan at Rest Stop 4 while they watched the entertainment. RS4 is famous for their wild and crazy costumes and skits, usually involving singing and dancing. 

This year was not disappointing. 

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.