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DAY 18
Today was easier than last year...but

Yesterday          Tomorrow
ROUTE: King City to Paso Robles CA DISTANCE: 60 Miles WINDS: W 5-10 early...headwinds, calm in the middle, and headwind final 10 miles into motel
WEATHER: Cool start, sunny and toasty at finish, high-90...low 55. TERRAIN: Hilly, with 2 significant climbs TOTAL CLIMBING: 3871 Feet

DAILY REPORT:  I'll say it again...we're all glad today and yesterday were parts of what the ride was last year when we covered the two day's distance in one day.  Aside from that, until mid afternoon, the temperature today was perfect to ride and the scenery was great throughout the day.  It was really nice to hit the first tough 10% climb 10 miles from the motel at 7:00 rather than in the afternoon when the temperature would be in the 90s.  We had a split breakfast which gave us a little spread early, but by the time they all got over the first hill, we were pretty much together.

I got in the van with Karen for the first 10 miles so I could get some photos of the first climb.  I remember climbing that punch in the heat one year and it definitely got my attention.  The slope was a steady 10% according to my GPS for over a mile.  Standing at the top watching the riders turn the cranks, it looked much steeper.  But no matter...everyone got over it in good order and enjoyed the steady drop in terrain for the next 10 miles.

Our route today took us out into the golden hills of California...golden because of the dry conditions that exists in these hills.  It's hard to believe they can get water up here for the houses and for some of the crops that grow on the small farm plots.  They must pump it from pretty far down and the terrain was either going up or down all day. 

It's pretty desolate out here too with little or no traffic most of the day till we got close to Paso Robles.  Our only SAG today was at a store at the corner of G-14...one of only two stores on our entire route today.  After departing the SAG, the terrain rolled up and down until the second store (The B Store) at about 40 miles.  Just about everyone stopped to recharge water bottles and have lunch before tackling the next big challenge that lay about a mile past the store.  That challenge was another 9% grade for about 2 miles to get over a golden mountain. 

After the riders departed the B Store, they had about a mile of downhill warm up before starting to ascend.  At a mile, they came around a corner and saw a pretty good down hill lead up to the start of the climb...at least that's what it looked like.  When I came around the corner I noticed my speed starting to drop appreciably...hey, it's down hill!  All I know was I had to pedal pretty hard to keep my speed up to a respectable level...then we hit the upslope...UGH! 

I didn't stop at the B Store so I could get ahead of the group and take photos as they came up the climb.  I rode up to the first relatively level spot and camped out until I started seeing riders coming up the hill...I took a few photos and then continued up the climb to the next good photo op.  The views were awesome over the side of the climb as the roadway made its way across the face of the hill.  I think today proved that you don't have to have a mountain to have a good mountain climb.

After the riders came over the top, I rode around them until they got close to Paso Robles.  I stopped a couple times to snap a photo and then back on the bike and up the road to the next photo spot.  I was waiting for Cy, Tom, Bill, and Paul to come into view when I heard someone yelling as they were coming around the corner.  When they got to me, they reported that Cy had been stung by a bee...right between the eyes...OUCH!  They pulled over and we gave him some first aid, I called the van and Karen brought some ice and sting eaze to put on the sting.  He only had minor swelling above his eye and after the ice, he seemed to be OK.  We observed him for about 20 minutes before deciding he was OK to ride.  I rode with him for several miles to make sure he was going to have a reaction and he finished the last 15 miles without incident. 

Yes, it was nice to finish this day before 3:00...last year we didn't finish until 7:00.  The final riders commented that it was good to get in as it was getting hot.  I remember that I told them a few days ago when we were in the 50s all day and wishing for some heat that they would be wishing they had some of that temperature back when they got in this area...wasn't wrong on that one.

Tomorrow's ride is no picnic in a spot or two either as we have a bit of climbing to do to get back to the coast.  It wouldn't be as tough if we hadn't had today and yesterday...I'm sure the tired legs from the last two days will be talking to them when they start out tomorrow.  I'm going to give them a sleep-in tomorrow morning to give them a little more time to recover.  I think everyone is looking forward to the day after tomorrow...it's only 38 miles to Solvang!  Sounds like a wine tasting afternoon to me.  See you tomorrow.

HEARD DURING THE DAY:

"Do you want to stop and take a photo or do you expect me to give you the 1000 words?"

"I didn't know I could go this slow without falling over."

"I wonder just how many things we'd do to get in one of Mike's photos?"

"My wife called last night and said she'd seen me in the website.  Then she said, 'Don't come home.'"

"You weren't kidding when you said we'd have a couple steep climbs today."
"Yeah, but you had some nice down hills too."

"My granny gear just about wasn't enough a time or two today."
"Yeah, some grannies just aren't as good as others."

"Legs don't fail me now!" 

"How did you do today and yesterday all in one day last year?"
"We just kept pedaling until we got to Paso Robles."

"Margie served enough mashed potatoes on my plate to feed an army."

"Barb, don't point the way to dinner tonight.  I think I know where it is."

 

 NOW YOU KNOW WHY MEN DON'T ASK FOR DIRECTIONS...ESPECIALLY FROM A WOMAN.

Last night we were winding up RAP and getting ready to go to dinner.  We were going to a small diner about a half mile from the motel and as Karen was finishing with all the details of the route, it was Barbara's turn to explain where dinner was.  Let me set the stage...Barb's getting over a cold and is in the break up phlegm stage which takes one's voice away.  As she was trying to talk (nothing more than a hoarse whisper) she was flailing away with her arms indicating ways to go.  "We go left out of the motel, and turn right under the highway and then it depends which way you go next as to where the cafe is...if you take the sidewalk to the right, you go...and the cafe will be on your left, but if you take the side walk to the left, you'll go by...and then the cafe will be on your right."  Now these directions took about 2 minutes to get out and by the time she had gotten to "go under the highway," I could tell we were in trouble and everyone was already in a daze.  But the animation she was doing with her arms while qualifying each minute detail of her directions was entertaining, albeit not helpful in clarifying her instructions.  After she finished, she promptly went to her room to get her sweater for the walk to the cafe.  The look on everyone's faces was like, "What just happened?"  Nobody said a word or even moved until she returned with her sweater...me included.  We know that if we just keep quiet and act innocent eventually Barb will lead all of us to dinner if we just waited long enough.  It worked, Barb was like a mother duck with all her little ducklings following her down the street.  In the end, she thought everyone was just being polite by waiting for her...when in reality we just didn't want to become lost and miss dinner.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY MEN DON'T ASK FOR DIRECTIONS:  This one happened last year

"How do we get back on route from the SAG?"
"The route goes left at the last turn but you turned right to get here...pretend you didn't turn right to come to the SAG...you should have gone left on route if you didn't want to stop at the SAG that was to the right...so now you have to go back to where you turned right instead of left.  When you get there go straight and pretend you're taking the left turn you should have taken in the first place instead of turning right to the SAG...got it?"  Before I heard the directions I was unsure which way to go, but after the explanation I was completely sure I was unsure.

SCENES OF THE DAY

Now Paul, if you'd attended my flat tire clinic last evening you'd known to put the tube inside the tire before inflating it to 120 psi.

Sell the pork bellies and buy Chiquita! 
 

I'm thinking of moving out here and I'm looking for a ranch style parcel with a well.  Haven't been able to find one anywhere.  If you hear of where I can get one, call me ASAP.

Fearing the riders would never be able to start if they stopped for food on the steep slope of the first climb, Karen walked along and restocked their snack pocket as they rode by. 
 

That Team Flamingo celebration may be a little early Dan...there's still plenty of climb before the top.
 

This would be a lot more fun if that flag were pointing in the other direction.

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