Monterey - New Thread

[Veronica]

So, I've seen the list of who is going.

Who is making a weekend out of it? Where are you staying?

V.

[aka_kim]

I am supposed to be "navigating" the bike bus with SK. Little does she know that I got lost on the way to Monterey last year. We're staying Sat. night at the Residence Inn in Salinas.

[bikerz]

I'm going, but I can't stay overnight due to dog responsibilities.

[dachshund]

I'm pretty sure I'm going, but I can't stay over either. I'm mulling over the logistics....

[SadieKate]

I am supposed to be "navigating" the bike bus with SK. Little does she know that I got lost on the way to Monterey last year. We're staying Sat. night at the Residence Inn in Salinas.It isn't a real adventure without a U-turn.

[jobob]

Lee and I stayed overnight after the ride last time, but this time we're heading home after the ride.

We could easily be talked into sticking around for apres-ride eats though. :)

[SadieKate]

That's good because that is the whole reason Kim and I are staying Saturday night - for the gurmette eats and good company in Salinas.

[slinkedog]

I will be there and I have the whole day off, so I can can stay for after-ride noshing. :)

However, we have been without power since Saturday afternoon (just got turned back on this morning) so I have not ridden AT ALL since last weekend (we went out of town for 3 nights to escape our 100 degree house), and even that was only a 20 miler. So, I will try to do the whole ride, but if I poop out at the end, will someone come back for me?? :o

[jobob]

But of course ! :)

[SadieKate]

If you axe nicely.:p

[slinkedog]

You all are the best!! :)

[dachshund]

However, we have been without power since Saturday afternoon (just got turned back on this morning) ...

Good lord! I'm sorry to hear that. That's a looooooong time to be without power. Especially in the heat.

My washing machine bit the dust - too many zaps from the power going out, I think. Honestly. Maybe I'll send PGE the bill. :D

[cindysue]

However, we have been without power since Saturday afternoon (just got turned back on this morning)

oooh Shannon,

I feel your pain. We were without power for two days. I pulled out my thermarest and slept by the porch. ooh, that reminds me - I need to upload my Nova Scotia pictures from my camera.....

Have fun everyone! I'm sad I will miss it!

[bikerz]

Thanks AG, for another wonderful Monterey Ride - I had a blast!

I picked Slinkedog up at her place in San Jose and we headed down to the meeting spot, convertible top down, and sun-hats on! Unfortunately, heading west towards Marina we decided to stop and put the top back on - it was cool and misty, and so it remained for the rest for the day - but I really loved it after the brutal heat of the last week or so.

There were nine of us on today's ride (Winddance had a dead car battery at the last moment and couldn't join us): Me, Slinke, AdventureGirl, Sadiekate, Jobob and Leebob, aka_Kim, Dachshund and AG's friend Jim, our fearless leader. It was a beautiful ride, cool and damp - we all wanted wipers for our sunglasses :cool:, and I just kept mine off for most of the ride. It was just the usual tourist-dodging through Cannery Row area, then clear sailing down to Pebble Beach.

We had a little excitement on the way back, the result of which was that Jim got an official TE-bestowed nickname - Danger-Boy! I'll leave it to other participants to tell the story and post photographic evidence (Jo???)

When we were done, Lisa led us to a great restaurant in Moss Landing for a post-ride meal - yum! A wonderful ride and great company, as always!

Here are some photos (many of mine didn't come out :( )

Sadiekate demonstrates some of the latest dance moves the kids are doing now in the clubs:
1131
(actually, I don't know what she was doing!)


Danger-Boy and Lee-bob - looking oh so serious!
1132


Adventure Girl had arranged a surprise for us part way along the trail - Go TE!!
Slinke and Jo cresting the hill
1133


and Jo's dramatic arrival:
1134

[snapdragen]

Looks like my kind of weather! Glad to hear it was a good time.

[Trekhawk]

Love the pics. Looks like you all had heaps of fun.:)

[slinkedog]

BikerZ picked me up and we had a great conversation on the way down the coast. LOVE her zippy little convertible!! :)

The ride was great, although I could have lived without the mist. Made for some cold fingers and slippery brake levers. I had to ditch my sunglasses because they don't come equipped with windshield wipers. The route was fun and the company was fantastic!

Our leader, Danger-Boy, was quite the fast fellow! He zoomed past me a few times... at least I think that's what that blur was. Ah, yes, the breaking of the law incident. ;) We rode past the red "Danger" tape and, after walking part of the hill behind it, I decided to mount up and ride. It wasn't bad at all, until I crested the top and saw everyone else coming back up!!!! Climbing the backside of that hill again was not what my legs wanted. Apparently, Jim (Danger-Boy) made it past the cops at the bottom of the hill, which alerted them that more were on the way. The rest of the group got turned back because a WWII land mine had washed ashore. Sheesh! What did they think we were going to do? Clip out and slog through the sand in our cleats to play soccer with it? Just let us ride through!!! (Rant over.)

Loved AG's GO TE!! chalk sign, which we all missed the first time. She and I were the last ones past that point on the way out (because I'm pokier than Jo OR Snap) and I didn't see it. Lisa made me turn around and come back to see it. I'm glad she did!! :)

I finished the whole ride, of which I was inordinately proud! There were a few moments I wanted to quit. LeeBob was quite the gentleman and hung with me at the end when any grade at all was a source of burning in my legs and cussing in my mouth. ;) Thanks to all of you who waited for me at one point or another.

Oh, I almost forgot about the tourist-dodging on the trail through Monterey. I actually yelled at a pedestrian, something I've never done before. I'm not a yeller, by nature. However, we were going down the path, which, I might point out, is bicycle-only, at that point, with a dirt path on the side for pedestrians, and I see a woman with two younger women or girls walking down the middle of the cycling path. They are approaching us (Lisa and someone else were right on my wheel) and not showing any signs of moving out of the way. I finally yelled at her to move to one side or the other and reminded her that this portion of the path is for bikes only. Then they scooted out of the way. I wonder, now, if they even spoke English, given the large number of foreign tourists that visit the area.

We had a wonderful post-ride meal at a great seafood restaurant in Moss Landing. It was so great to see all of you and to get the chance to chat and ride together. I almost forgot to mention that SK was the master of her PortaPrivy, as well. ;)

Thanks, AG, and all you TE folk who made my day a wonderful time! You're the best! Great pics, Z and Amy!! :)

[SadieKate]

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0032659590796a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=portaprivy&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=portaprivy&noImage=0

Yes, the third attempt's the charm. No wadding needed.

[slinkedog]

Oooh, and it's on sale!! ;)

[dachshund]

Nice write-up, slinkedog!

AdventureGirl, thanks for organizing the ride - it was a lot of fun. And please tell Jim "thanks" for leading and providing additional entertainment. :) It was nice to meet him, he's a fun guy.

I liked riding through the boardwalk, it was kind of circus-like. My "obstacle course" was riding with my glasses all fogged up (more like rained on), until I realized I could keep them clear if I kept wiping. Pedal, pedal, wipe, wipe...

SadieKate, thanks for the link - I'm buyin' one of those. Even though "klutz" is my middle name and I'll need to wear a helmet when I fold it... But those things are too cool!

-Amy

[SadieKate]

SadieKate, thanks for the link - I'm buyin' one of those. Even though "klutz" is my middle name and I'll need to wear a helmet when I fold it... But those things are too cool!

-AmyMaybe we can get Bubba to provide lessons after a ride someday.

AG, great ride. Now, I know what I missed last year (and what others missed this year ;) ). Thanks for taking time out from packing that evening to party it up with Sickie and me. She and I felt quite pampered this weekend. You'll just have to let us know which stories we're allowed to share.

AG - is there a computer in the hotel lobby in Scottsdale? Do you have any 'net access this week? :(

[aka_kim]

Respect and admiration for Adventure Girl continues :p ... the shwag bags at the Knoxville DC might contain water bottles à la AG.

[slinkedog]

Okay, Jobob. Where you be? We need to see your pics!! :)

[crazycanuck]

Thanks for posting the pics-I do have a few q's

Is just me or does danger boy look like Tom Skerrit??? (the dude from top Gun)

Also, does he do 24hr mtn bike events??? (noticed his jersey) If he does, I bow down to him.

It's nice to to see you ladies had a good ride. How many km's was it?

c

[SadieKate]

Danger Boy is part of Adventure Girl's 24 Hr team.

[BikeMomma]

Looks like you all had a grand ride. Sorry I missed it! Nice TdF-style asphalt writing AG! Sweet touch....:D

I took some pics at the Mammoth Lakes wedding I attended. I'll set up a thread and post the pics from the ride we did the next day (epic, to say the least). The views were breathtaking....

~BikeMomma (the other Kim)

[bikerz]

Hey gals -

Did anyone on this ride leave a size L "Little Red Riding Hood" t-shirt in the trunk of my car accidentally? (Or on purpose? Was I supposed to do something with it? :confused: :confused:)

Let me know and I'll be happy to return it to its rightful owner - by mail or in person (maybe at the FishDr food fest?)

[jobob]

I think that was slinke's

[slinkedog]

Oh, that's right! I thought it made it into my bag, but I must have missed it.

Okay, Ann, how can I get it from you?? :)

[bikerz]

Oh, that's right! I thought it made it into my bag, but I must have missed it.

Okay, Ann, how can I get it from you?? :)

I'll PM you!

[Melody]

It sounds like everyone had a grand ol time. :) I wish I could have gone, but work has kept me busy busy busy :( Deployment of code, WWDC, etc. etc. etc. :/

Hopefully I'll be able to get my slow butt out to the next gathering. :)

Mel