The plan was for me and Jennie to meet at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge at 10:30am. I was going to ride from home in San Jose, while Jennie was going to take BART from Walnut Creek. I left home at 5:44am, 16 minutes ahead of my schedule. It was still dark for the first few miles. It looked like my schedule was working out, as I was consistently just ahead of it. I got to the meeting place at 10:14am, still 16 minutes ahead of schedule.
While hanging out waiting for Jennie, I was watching all of the tourist groups come and go. This one group wanted to take a picture of them- selves with some pretty flowers in the background. I started to move over so that I wouldn't interfere with their picture, but then they motioned to me that they not only wanted me in the picture but that they wanted me to be in the center of the picture, in the center of the group. I accepted and joined them for the picture, putting an arm around each of the women standing next to me. I was dressed in cycling shorts and tanktop, so I looked like your typical California native. Maybe I could get paid for doing this fulltime?
Jennie arrived at 10:28, right on schedule, so we headed out across the bridge. We weren't to sure how the bridge crossing would be with all of these hordes of tourists, but once we got on the bridge, the crowds thinned out, so it wasn't too bad. We ended up having only one panic stop while going across, and that was because there was a group of American teenage girls stretched clear across the sidewalk, who didn't realize that they should move over.
We made our usual deli stop in Sausalito, then headed over to Mill Valley and the climb up to the Panoramic Hwy to the Mt.Tamalpias Park HQ. From here, since we were about 15 minutes ahead of my schedule, Jennie suggested that we go take the road along the ridge that finally drops down near Bolinas. Good suggestion!! Athough there is more climbing involved, the views are fantastic; looking out to the ocean and down to Stinson Beach on one side, and looking at all of the inland hills on the other side.
We decided to pass right through Olema and make Tomales our next stop. In Olema, we were now 15 minutes behind my schedule, due mostly to the more climbing on the Bolinas Ridge detour. There were many miles of rollers and headwinds, but we pushed along, with Jennie doing most of the work at the front. It was all I could do to hang on. I'd like to say that it was because I had an extra 50 miles in my legs, but it could be that Jennie was just stronger. We both ate while we rode, and that managed to keep our energy levels up enough, so that we finally made it to Tomales.
Our Tomales reststop was well-deserved, and ended up lasting a full half hour. This was due in part because there happened to be a wedding at the church down the road. We were sitting in front of the bakery and were able to watch the bridal procession come out of the church and proceed to walk down the middle of the road, coming our way. Besides the bride (we didn't find the groom), there were the bride's maids, a marriachi band, and many other people; all walking down the middle of the road (with traffic backing up behind). They walked on by the bakery and on up the street.
Now refreshed, we were ready to do the final leg of the journey. It was a strong uphill headwind coming out of Tomales, but once the turn was made onto Middle Road, both the wind and the grade change. Down- hill with a tailwind. We made short work of Valley Ford and Freestone, and would have done the same with Occidental except that Jennie developed a loose spoke on her wheel. After a few minutes she managed to true it up again.
We finally pulled into Casini Ranch Campground at 5:10pm, just 10 minutes behind my schedule. Not too bad. I had 147.3 miles, while Jennie had 97.8 miles, plus many miles on BART which she thought I should count.
We decided to walk over to the Blue Heron Restaurant in Duncan Mills. It was only a mile each way, and I guess it was good for my legs, but I was glad that we had restbreaks along the way to stop and pick some raspberries. They were good. We promised not to tell the other people because we wanted to keep this raspberry patch all to ourselves.
Pam had never been to Ft.Ross before, so off we went for a car tour. We went out to Hwy 1 and Jenner, then up the coast to Ft.Ross. Along the way we checked out the bicyclists to see if any of them was someone that we knew but each of them was "nobody". It was very overcast and foggy along here, and so we couldn't even see the ocean. At Ft.Ross we did the quick tour. We were hoping to maybe run into the other group that was supposed to be riding out this way, but we never did see them. After Ft.Ross, I talked Pam into taking a different way back, so we went up the very steep Ft.Ross Road. It seemed to be worse in a car. Then it was along twisty mountain roads over to Cazadero, and finally back to the Russian River and camp. We still beat the others into camp.
The other MB group, consisting of Jennie, Karl, Paul Vlasveld, and Miguel Aznar, were to go through Cazadero and up Kings Ridge, over Tin Barn Rd, past the Buddist Monastery, out to Stewart's Point, then down the coast to Ft.Ross and Jenner, then back to camp. They ended up changing their route. After a long lunch at Stewart's Point in the sunshine, they started south on Hwy 1. But then, with the traffic and the fog, they decided to climb up Timber Cove and then go along the ridge on Myers Grade. They liked this route much better. Then it was back to Hwy 1 and another long lunch at Jenner.
The evening BBQ went well, with enough food as always. The number of people at the RRR was down this year, but that turned out to be a good thing, as it started to sprinkle during dinner. Half of the patio was covered, and it had just enough room for everyone to get in out of the damp. Pam brought food and plates for all of us, so it was easy for me to sponge off of her. Our main dish was portabella mushrooms, which Pam cooked up like they were regular steaks. Each mushroom was hamburger-patty size.
The evening campfire lasted shorter than usual, as the drizzle continued. But people still managed to stay up and about till about 9:00 pm.
The only one planning to go on the ride back to San Jose was just me. Pam said that she would ride to breakfast in Occidental with me, and I was glad to see that she was ready to go even before I was. I made up 5 PBJ sandwiches, then packed up my tent (still wet of course).
The little hill going out from camp was Pam's first hill, but she managed ok. Pam and I left camp by 7:28 and were later joined by Paul. Climbing up to Occidental was a bit hard for Pam, especially since she remembered how she used to race up that hill. But she made it up ok, although rather slowly. We just managed to beat the rush of customers at the Howard Station Cafe, as we were able to get a table, get our order in, and get our food without too much delay.
After eating, I was on the road at 9:00 sharp, a bit behind schedule but still with enough time to make it home before dark. Oh - I managed to break a spoke riding on Moscow Rd just starting out from camp. The back wheel wobbled a bit, but it was not going to give me any trouble. The sun was shining and I was ready to ride.
I felt good, and my body seemed to be riding on automatic, so I was able to just cruise along and enjoy the ride. I was able to power up all of the hills with no trouble at all.
Coming over the top of Alto Vista Rd, before Mill Valley, I could look out and see San Francisco in the far distance. It was very clear, with no haze at all.
At the end of the bike trail near the Sausalito Cyclery, I found Candace Embrey waiting with the tandem, while Lee was inside. It was now 1:40, and I had told them 12:00 to 1:00, so I was a bit late. I was still feeling good, so we skipped the Sausalito reststop and just headed out towards the Golden Gate Bridge. It was good to have company, although they did slow me down a tad. I think that riding easier helped me keep up my strength, as I would sometimes be able to take a few bites from my sandwich while waiting for Lee and Candace at the tops of the hills.
Candace and Lee had started out late, and so drove to Hwy 92 and Canada Rd. They were going to get 33 miles each way, 66 total. I also was going to give Pam and Paul ride credit for the ride up to Occidental and back to camp.
Once on Canada Rd, I was again on my own. Looked like it was going to be nice tailwinds all of the way home. On Foothill Expwy, I was cruising along at about 22 mph. One guy came along and passed me up like he was a somebody, but I knew that he didn't have 120 miles for the day so far, so I didn't care. We played leap frog for quite a few miles, with me passing him and him passing me. I was timing the green lights much better than he was.
Just before McKenzie Park I got a flat tire. Bummer. I'm sitting there fixing my tire, and eating a PBJ sandwich at the same time, when this guy comes along and stops, and wants to keep me company. He was Rob, the guy that came on last Saturday's ride, the guy who was also on Sierra to the Sea. I'm there with my mouth full and he's there trying to make conversation. Once fixed, we rode along together for awhile. He wants to pull me, and I tell him that I don't like to draft. Finally we manage to ride side by side. Soon after, I stop in at McClellan Park because I need water and want to pee. He finally leaves me in peace, and I'm able to enjoy the rest of my ride home. With four miles to go I found that my tire had a slow leak, but I just pumped it up and made it on home.
I made it home at 7:37. 147.4 miles, just 0.1 miles longer than the ride up. It was still plenty light when I got home, but it got dark very soon after, as it was dark when I drove over to Pam's house to pick up my bag.
I felt strong the whole day. I never worried about when to eat. It seemed that my body was taking care of that for me. I had 5 PBJs, 1 candy bar, half a bag of jelly beans, 1 coke, and the breakfast in Occidental. But I also ate anything and everything that I could find after the ride. The other half bag of jelly beans was the first to go (at 1200 calories/bag).
I think that my body liked that recovery day on Saturday. I had no sore muscles and no tired legs on Sunday.