ALC 5 has started!

John got into King City at about 6:30. His excuse for the later arrival was a good one. He got a bit dirty and greasy helping a rider. She had a bad case of chain-suck.

He says that yesterdays ride started cold & foggy along the coast, sun didn't come out till Marina. The riders zig zag through farm roads, artichokes, broccoli, strawberry fields forever.... He stopped for steamed artichokes (good choice John, fried is great but not so good on the tummy).

He said the last 10 miles into camp were especially good. I've always caught a tailwind there on those rollers and he caught a good one. 8-)

Nicole says the Cookie Lady was out right after the bridge over the ....what's the river some riders skinny dip at?

Today the ride is from King City to Paso Robles. Johns team will have an Ice Cream social near camp. Wonder how many root beer floats he will have worked off?

Nicole called last night - she completed day 2 (107 miles!) in 7.5 hours - woo-hoo! Caught a couple of tailwinds going up hill, she said - that's gotta be nice! But plenty of cross-wind too, and it was hot! She's having a great ride so far.

I think she rode with TE-er Shadon's "Team Dino" yesterday for a while - judging from the descriptions - she said they were a great bunch, and she got an honorary "dino" name. Small world!

Todays ride was from King City to Paso Robles. 77.2 miles and includes Quadbuster.

The first few miles out of King City are extremely bumpy, bring a spare FS mountain bike just for those few miles. JK.

John was delayed out of camp because he debated stayed while a friend worked out knee problems then went. Such a great guy.

The little town of Bradley holds a fundraiser for their kids each year (ride through towns where these are the most people they see all year). It was 95 degrees in the shade so riders tried to find spots to eat in the shade.

The route also stops at Mission San Miguel. The priest there puts (pardon me I'm Jewish and not sure of these things) cloth on the altar, riders sign and dedicate their ride. This is used at Mass later in the week.

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/photos/day_two/j1.html

Even with the late start and long lunch at Bradley to cool down John arrived in time for his tradition....root beer float at 21'st st drive in

tomorrow, Paso Robles to Santa Maria. John says he's sunburnt but not dehydrated.

I got a call from ACG and she gave me her tent address, so I sent a message through the online "send a message to a rider" to liksani and Shadon. Hopefully those 3 will meet up.

And anyone who wants to post a message for any rider can go here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/

If you're checking the pictures of the ride today...think pink!! The Velogirls are riding out in their jerseys today, watch for them.

Dita? BZ? Anyone who talks to the gals, wish them the best from me. OK?

Thanks for the news feed.

Absolutely I will, SK!

The riders love to get those email support messages too (I know Nicole checks every night!)
http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/

Many thanks for the pictures!!! It looks like an awesome event!

Just heard from John, todays route was from Paso Robles to Santa Maria up over Hwy 46 with a wonderful hill aka Evil Twins.

At the top of the hill is the half-way to LA sign where he stopped to have a photo taken, then a long screaming downhill to Hwy 1. I hope Shadon enjoyed that :)

The sun came out today, it's warmer. From rest stop 4 at Guadalupe they had tail winds into camp. He made it into camp at about 5.

Just got a call from John, todays ride was only 43.5 miles from Lompoc to Santa Maria. It is also red dress day so I hope our TE gals are wearing their finest frocks.

Though short the ride includes 3 long climbs, the one to and through Vandenberg AFB is especially challenging, then more rolling hills on 1. John says he had a problem in his tendon, stopped at Sports Medicine at rest stop 1 and was afraid they'd pull him from the ride. Instead they gave him some stretches and Bio Freeze and it worked, he's rolling on like new.

Tomorrow our intrepid gals go on to Ventura, the distance should be close to a Century again. It's one of the nicest routes, starts out with a 20 mile climb then you see the coast again! The rest of the route should be rollers, some steep. They'll pass through Santa Barabara and the Paradise Rest Stop.

This is a stop put on by some past riders with NO HEALTHY STUFF AT ALL. No Cliff bars, no gatorade, there will be gourmet ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers...

The photo's a little back lit but your intrepid reporter is in the middle, left to right that's Trek, John Hronowski, and Jack on Day 0 last year.

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/pho...y_four/b1.html