200K in January

Well after being sick, and having to deal with an airline going out of business on me during my vacation. I finally got back in the swing of this bicycling.
I found that there is another randonneur living nearby , Bruce and had been talking with some folk how double centuries, and we talking them into doing the Malibu 200k put on by Pacific Coast highway Radonneurs.
So at at 4:30 am , I met Bruce Taylor and Mike Miller. Sine I am slower, I drive to Malibu by myself, Bruce and Mike went to pick up Suzy Degazon. I got to Malibu at 5:30 and got my bike out of my car. The rest of the gang of showed up about 6,and we milled around and talked until the start at 7.Suzy had some one take a picture of us.(From L to R Bruce, Mike, Suzy, and myself(cell Phone Camera):
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SSPX0363.jpg
Finally at 7 , we started, They was a 200 foot climb to start with and I was off the back pretty fast. But we soon we back down to sea Level, so is used my descending muscle to get up to mach .7. I had just caught up when we climbed another 200 foot.
The ride was gorgeous. The first 17 miles we rolling hills with the Mansions of the Hollywood Hoi Polloi. We the crossed into Ventura county, and rode along the ocean.
after about 23 mile, highway 1 becomes a freeway. we had to get off and we went by the Point Mugu Naval Air Station .
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SUNP0003.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SUNP0004.jpg
we then rode past some farms,and came to the first control. I found David Nakai here,and gave him back some brevet cards. He said the extra weight would cause him To DNF! (he was riding a fully loaded touring bike:)) we then pedaled past the Seabees base .
then we came through the City of Ventura. We went past downtown, onto a bike path, did about 10 more miles of PCH, rode through a mudslide, and came to section I was dreading. about 10 miles where you have to ride on the shoulder of the 101 Freeway. I was doing ok until I got to the off ramp, and I had a flat. I fixed it, did another 200 foot climb. we then came to the lunch stop.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SUNP0005.jpg
The return was the exact same route. I rode with David most of the way back. I took a picture of a neat off shore island (would have gotten close, but this was on the 101 section.)
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SUNP0007.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...u/SUNP0008.jpg
Unfortunately , on the way back, there was a search and rescue mission going on.
I was taking it easy and dreading the rollers to come. sure enough I start to cramp coming up one with about 10 miles to go. And I had ran out of Accelerade. I would stop at a convenience store and get some , but this is Malibu. So struggled on . I found one at about 4 miles to go but decided to skip it.
We bypassed the last hill. It was about 4:30, and i wanted to take my sunglasses off, and put my reflective vest on I saw a house with a nice wall , so i went over and spread my stuff out. I was think that I hoped the owner wouldn't mind, when he came back from waling his dog! He said that it was ok , and talked for bit. I came back at 4:40, Talked with David some, had some Pizza, and went home. which being in LA, meant 2 hours and sitting in a Traffic Jam...

wow - great job! that;'s a nice early 200k for sure!! god pics!

:) Fredwina, you're so cool :) It's always nice to read your posts & you photos!

When's your next one?

I'm trying to decide
The distance will be 300k, but I'm trying to decide between Malibu on 2/2 and Casa Grande, AZ on 2/16. I had promised Bryan G and Bruce that I'd do the Casa Grande, and I was going to do the 400 in march, but RaleighDon got his hare thing the same day ....:cool:

Great report Fredwina! It's funny how small the cycling community is, even here in southern California. My boyfriend George rode some of the San Diego 200K brevet with Bruce Taylor last week so his name is fresh in my memory!

Bruce was mad at himself becuase George apparently dropped him!;) I can only hope to ride as well as he does when I'm his age!

Fredwina, great report! Thanks for the pics, it gets me a little excited about entering the world of brevets!