20 riders signed up for this first year jaunt (17 actually made it for the ride). Since we have been having such miserable weekends, and so many rides have been rained out, we were pleading with the weather gods for good weather. Not only did we have good weather, we had great weather. As we took off, the fog lifted and we rode south into the sun with the wind at our backs.
The plan was for each of us to take 5-mile turns driving our sag vehicle, a very large and impressive truck provided by Wayne and Evelyn Davis. Mary Kairis took off for the first shift and of course decided to drive a little farther. We were riding along wondering where the truck was. The next driver did the same thing. This was not really a problem, because the more they each drove the less the rest of us had to drive. My plan was to drive the last 5 miles into camp and to start setting up camp, since I knew where all the food was stashed. Besides, the last 5 miles was the uphill part. Bob Becker unfortunately spoiled my plans by breaking a spoke, so he got to take the truck up the hill. Funny that he was able to get to the campground first and into the showers.
I was really glad that I rode the last few miles. Once you leave River Road in the Salinas Valley, Arroyo Seco Road winds gradually up the river canyon. This little valley has meadows and rural farms alongside the road with occasional peeks down to the river. There was minimal traffic, smooth pavement, not very steep hills, and a mild wind to cool you down. On one section I caught up to Bob Thompson who had pulled off the road to smell the flowers; the sweet aroma was almost smothering with solid masses of purple, orange and blue cascading down the hills and across the meadows. It was beautiful!
We wound our way up to the campground from the river. The group site is nestled between two little lakes. Lots of locals were fishing for bass and bluegill. None of the intrepid cyclers had brought fishing poles. I suggested a couple trails for short hikes, but there were no takers. These were cyclists; the united consensus was for showers and food.
This campground had just been completely renovated so the showers were immaculate, and the water was hot. The food was varied, good, and plentiful. Doug Gillison barbecued the chicken to perfection. Even so, our 4 vegetarians had to fend off all the chicken eaters who wanted to try their dish, too. We dined on Italian red checkered tablecloths with candles and an additional bottle of wine provided by Mary Kairis who kept pulling more goodies out of her allotted "one small bag".
Grete and George Johnson's two teenage sons, Kyle and Dale, took over the fire making. We had had to convince them not to light it until close to dark. They were ready to burn at 5:00 PM. Then as dusk fell, the frogs started. Their croaking volume increased until we stopped talking to listen, then for no obvious reason they all stopped simultaneously. We started talking again, then surreptitiously, one frog started up and was soon joined by another and the volume increased once again. It was a friendly evening around the fire, and then we gradually drifted off to bed.
This was an early rising group. I tried to make a policy that the newest club member get up first and make coffee and deliver it to my tent, but this didn't fly. After breakfast we ate, packed, cleaned up and were ready to ride by 0900. No one even had to say what time to leave or what had to be done. It all happened very smoothly. This was a great group.
Two of our riders volunteered to drive the truck, so we loaded their bicycles and took off. It was cool, clear and sunny. The ascent to the ridge top was done in the morning. Glorious vistas everywhere! We kept stopping to take pictures and look around. The long downhill into Carmel Valley was welcome, and even with a headwind it was fast. The group voted to change the route by shortening it to go over Laureles Grade, something I had thought I would never ride. It's steep! We figured riding into head winds to Carmel and then competing with traffic on the first nice weekend of the spring was not a good idea. Besides it was getting late and we were looking forward to getting home.
Once we got over that damned mountain and back onto Highway 68, we flew. Winds at our backs again. Pretty cool - winds at our back going south and coming back!
As a wrap up, I would have to say this was a very congenial group and we had a very good weekend.