Dan's
AIDS/Lifecycle 6 Pictures
Day Two (Monday 6/4/2007) - Santa Cruz to
King City
108.8 Miles
Click on the picture to expand
The morning was cool but not as wet as previous years. When I had gotten up at 2 am to use the porta-potty, it was a clear, cloudless night. At 4:40 am, when I woke up to eat breakfast and get ready to ride out, it had become very foggy. This would be our longest day of riding with a relatively flat 108 miles (advertised as 104 miles, but my computer told me it was a lie) from Santa Cruz to King City. The route would take us along the coast, through the agriculture fields of the Monterey coast , and then inland through the Salinas Valley to King City. Usually this day is a very windy day with tailwinds at our backs most of the way. This year would not be an exception. Again, with my single gear, I could only go 21 mph tops, unless I really pushed the limit of my legs. I didn't like the fact that everyone was passing me with their big gears. Usually I'm the one doing the passing. This year, I would only be passing riders on climbs and descents. And I would soon find out today, that I did indeed push that limit beyond a safe point as far as my right knee was concerned.
Camp Santa Cruz in the morning. See the fog?
Out on the road, every year a coffee shop called the Ugly Mug (click here for the link http://www.cafeugly.com/) in Soquel opens it's doors to all AIDS/Lifecycle riders and gives them free coffee, latte's, smoothies and pastries. They have been doing this as long as I can remember and I've been riding this ride for eleven years. All I can say is "AWESOME"! It was sooo good coffee too!
The owner of the Ugly Mug! What a cool guy!
Rest Stop One.
My jewelry. My orange bracelet indicating I had seen the safety video on Day 0 (a requirement for all riders), the red band indicating I was a San Francisco rider (LA riders were blue) and my yellow LiveStrong bracelet I wore for Bruce Demarest, a dear friend and fellow musician that passed away in 2004 of cancer. My ride was dedicated to the memory and family of Bruce. You can read more about Bruce and hear his music from his album I played on in 1987 on my web site at http://danhertlein.com/demarest.htm
Rest Stop One roadies. Hippies!
The two "Dan's". The other Dan (ToD) is a member of my cycling club,Diablo Cyclists.
A rider named Rich, whose parents, "Mom and Dad" would be out on the whole route supporting the riders. They are two very special people who have ridden the ride several times. You'll see pictures of them later.
Moss Landing Power Plant on the Monterey Coast.
Strawberry fields forever...
And artichokes.
Rest Stop Two. My friend Beth, a classy pig if I must say so. Sesame Street was the theme.
Big Bird directing traffic. After leaving this rest stop, my right knee started hurting me.
Lunch in Salinas at mile 46 I think.
After finishing lunch I decided to give the Sports Medicine Tent a visit.
My technician and me after she stretched me out and suggested that I visit Sports Med in camp. She found no knots in my knee and applied a cold pack which helped me get through the day...barely.
The ride out towards King City which would continue another 35 miles or so with a stiff tailwind again. Same complaint as stated earlier but still fun while I worried about my injury. There is something about Day Two that always causes drama with me. Last year, I crashed at mile 60. Three years ago, I strained my knee after stepping in a gopher hole at lunch.
A cool recumbent tandem. The sign on the back the bike says "No Sore Butts".
I made it to Rest Stop Three at mile 62! Landmark fro me as I had passed the point where I crashed last year. My knee was sore but it wasn't going to stop me!
Supermen on the side of the rode directing traffic into Rest Stop Three.
Dancers at the Water Stop at Soledad Mission
Flat road with a great tailwind.
Infamous bridge where much skinny dipping was being done. Not me! I was on a mission to finish the long day with my bum knee.
I just had to stop fro the fabulous "Cookie Lady". She comes out every year and supports the ride, providing cookies fro all the riders. I heard she begins preparing in March! Walnut Chocolate Chip, my favorite!
ToD (The other Dan) as I'm about to pass. We had a strong cross wind at this point where we cut back towards King City for about five miles through Greenville that gave many riders a problem but for some reason, I excelled here. Only a couple regularly geared bikes passed me here.
Mora. A very friendly young rider. We became friends on the ride
Rest Stop Four. Their theme was DMV. Very funny. They were extremely rude to all the riders. It was perfect!
More Rest Stop Four fun for the day!