If there were three days I would have circled where I'd be mostly likely to hit the wall, it would have been Days 24-26: today and the next two days. The ride today is/was a real grind. It starts with 40 miles of gradual climbing on crappy roads, culminating in two steeper climbs when your legs are pretty much done. Day 25 is just going to be long (87 miles), and Day 26 I have to ride 70 miles with a lot of wind and rollers to deal with on the heels of these other two, very hard rides. And now I'm starting to get saddle sore.
Sharks opener tonight and I won't be hittin' no wall today, Lindsey!
About the time we went to bed last night, the skies cleared and it got very cold and that led to the coldest morning of my ride so far, 43° according to my cyclometer. Of course, my cyclometer also said today's high was 121°, so who knows.
My hotness reached an all-time high today
I rode alone for most of the day today, and a few miles outside Pismo Beach, I hit fog and it stayed foggy for 15 miles or so. The first 40 miles of this leg is pretty boring, so I didn't miss much. We do encounter a lot of 18-wheelers, and given the long false flat, I almost looked forward to them barreling past because the wind pushing off them (Doppler effect?) was giving me a temporary 2 mph boost that I was able to hold for a few hundred yards.
The 18-wheeler before this one gave up none of his lane despite no oncoming traffic. When a truck driver does that they're doing it on purpose. Of course, I still appreciated the 2 mph boost.
The two tough climbs come at mile 49 and mile 53. I was tired but handled them fine, but I was still happy to get to Los Olivos, where I enjoyed a sandwich, Diet Coke, and a Fat Tire beer before setting course for the last 10 miles to Buellton.
Oh ya, I also did a little ironing at lunch
After I left Los Olivos, I continued solo, off-route, taking Ballard Canyon Road to Buellton. That 10 miles is by far the best 10 miles of the day and since the distance is the same, I can't understand why the CCC doesn't go that way, unless: a) they think the steep 1/2-mile at the beginning is too steep; b) they don't want us to miss the miniature horses; or c) the Arthritis Foundation keeps it a secret so I can ride it alone. I'm going with c.
What bike rider wouldn't want to go this way?
No Shetland ponies, but great wineries and vineyards
No Shetland ponies but I saw sheep, baby deer, lots of regular horses and even one Shetland (barely visible on the other side of the fence) keeping this guy company
Bet nobody else saw Buffalo!
....or steer
At camp, tonight's CCC honoree was Caitlin Ryan. Caitlin is about the same age as Lindsey; her arthritis also started at about age 3, she also has Systemic Arthritis (as I recall from last year), and she also is flaring again after her arthritis had been quiet the last two years. It's eerily similar, but there is a also a major difference. Lindsey started responding to medication much quicker than Caitlin did. It took Caitlin dozens of medications over years of time, including way too much Prednisone, two hip replacements, untold pain and suffering, and a lost childhood before her disease even came close to responding. They both also share a tremendous spirit and ability to cope. Looking at Caitlin is like looking at the Lindsey that could have been.
Caitlin Ryan and her dad, Dave who is also doing the CCC
Caitlin's mom gave a great talk. Caitlin's dad, Dave is on Dwight and Maria Powery's CCC team, "Team Also Touch". Sounds like a strange name right? I encourage you to visit alsotouch.com to the learn the story of the Powery's daughter, Christiana, who died at age 10 from complications from her arthritis-related autoimmune disease. Have a Kleenex handy. The team name comes from Christiana's last selfless words in her diary.
Caitlin's mom gave a great talk. Also in this pic, Troy, the guy at the right in orange, proposed to his girlfriend at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse on day 1 of the CCC. They met on a previous CCC. They are all on Dwight and Marie Powery's Team Also Touch. Nope, ain't gonna be hittin' no wall
Day 24 Recap: Pismo Beach, CA to Buellton, CA
Actual Miles: 67.4
Cumulative Miles: 1,546.0
Elevation Gain: 2,520'
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 64,585'
% Distance to Mexico: 82.2%
Actual Miles: 67.4
Cumulative Miles: 1,546.0
Elevation Gain: 2,520'
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 64,585'
% Distance to Mexico: 82.2%
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