Three Harbors Ride?

[Brandy]

I'm impatiently waiting for a ride report ladies!

[tprevost]

I'll post more pictures tomorrow but basically it was a perfect day for riding. I met Redhot3368 at the registration line in the morning; she drove with her DH who rode the 100 miler (very quickly, I might add!).

Karen and Tony

Also, her friend Kim came too... these two ladies are SO pretty and really cool to ride with!!! We saw Caligurl at the start and along the road, then at the first rest stop.... then she off and left us in the dust! I had to leave before Cali returned so she's gonna have to give ya all the details of the 100 miler.

Anyway, as usual, I was plugging along trying to keep up with Redhot and Kim when I tried to get them to go ahead since I knew I'd never make it at that pace! They slowed down to where I could keep up and we proceeded to make our way through Ventura.
Karen (Redhot3368) and Kim at rest stop #1

En route to our first rest stop, we met another woman (Kay) who was riding alone and we invited her to ride w/us... of course she also was faster than me (but only on the flats). Once past the first rest stop, we started towards Ojai on the bikepath.

It was a really nice path and a lot of it was shaded and very scenic. The 2nd rest stop (also the lunch stop 20+miles later) was at a really pretty park in the oak trees... the food wasn't that great but it was a nice place to stop and regroup. Once we left that rest stop there was an uphill grade up into Ojai... that's when I found out that I was actually faster than someone up hills (Kay was slower than me I know, what a meanie... but I am always last, so it was nice not to be the very last one for one ride!)... it was actually a pretty gentle grade and still lots of shade and really pretty. Once we got to Ojai, we actually went down on the "other" side of the triangle (casitas pass side).

Lake Casitas

We turned again just east of Lake Casitas so we didn't actually go over the pass and there were a few rollers until we got past the lake... but once we got past the lake, there were a few really nice downhills (unfortunately there were also some headwinds) and a nice gentle ride back to the lunch stop.

We hung out at the rest stop for a little while and then finally got going for the final 15+/- miles back to the Harbor. It was slightly downhill but the headwinds pretty much negated the benefit so we plugged along at what was a decent clip for me until we got into Ventura where a hill slowed Kay down to where I had to stop and wait for her.... Redhot and Kim went on ahead and Kay and I finished shortly thereafter. It was about 55 miles and the weather was perfect. It was warm enough not to wear any jackets or anything when we started and it didn't get too hot mid-day either... and the sky was perfectly clear.

Me (could my face be any more red?) Redhot and Kim after the ride

There ya go... sorry, I'm not a writer... but I did have a great time today! Thank you Redhot (tell Kim, thank you again too please) and Caligurl for making it a great day!!!

Trac'

[Brandy]

Great pics! It sounds like it was a neat ride, I wish that I could have been there with you.

Is Redhot going to ride the century at Cool Breeze?

[caligurl]

nice pics! nice report!

my camera is still in my camera bag... we didn't get home til about 9:30 (drive time and had to pick up a few things on the way home... and no.... not clothes or frivoulous stuff... things like bananas... milk.... in-n-out burger! )

i got sunburned.... even with sunscreen.... but then.... i guese i know it doesn't last all day without reapplication! and they didn't have any at the sag stops... so my back is red... POOEY!!

[tprevost]

bummer about the sunburn CG! I heard this is only the 2nd year and this one guy is trying to do most of the stuff himself... once I heard that, it explained a lot.... maybe you should e-mail him with suggestions to improve the ride; apparently its better than last year so eventually, he'll get it down! I'm definately going to send a note with some route marking suggestions! Sometimes you actually had to ride right up onto an intersection to see which way you were going ... yuck!

I'm looking forward to seeing your pics and reading all about the 100 miler! I'm sure you had a good adventure!

Tracy

ps. Yes, Redhot is now doing the Century at Cool Breeze YEAH!!!!

[Brandy]

Redhot! I'm glad that you decided to do it.

[redhot3368]

It was SOOO cool meeting Tracy and Caligurl at the ride yesterday!!!
Thnaks girls for making the trek out to Ventura! It sure was a pretty day!
Great ride!! Tracy, you did fantastic!!!
Thanks for the pics and great ride report.
You wrote it better then I could!
Caligurl, you are amazing!! Tracy was telling me about your King of the mountains experience!! and all of the rides you have done! WOW!! Very impressive!
YES, I am riding the Century at Cool Breeze, Thanks to Tracy for talking me into it!!

Karen

[caligurl]

[QUOTE=tprevost]bummer about the sunburn CG! I heard this is only the 2nd year and this one guy is trying to do most of the stuff himself... once I heard that, it explained a lot.... maybe you should e-mail him with suggestions to improve the ride; apparently its better than last year so eventually, he'll get it down! I'm definately going to send a note with some route marking suggestions! Sometimes you actually had to ride right up onto an intersection to see which way you were going ... yuck!

QUOTE]

hubby already told them about the intersections like that... not all of them were like that... but ya... since he was following the arrows... and i had the slip... he got annoyed with that!

i'm going to email them/him... and i will take my time and let hubby read it to make sure it comes across nicely and not b!tchy!

my HUGEST gripe..... registration! i've been on rides with 1000 riders that i've gotten through registration faster than yesterday morning! 1/2 hour in line! for a ride that was 200 people... and you saw how many were already of me... MAYBE 20?????? oh i was steamin'!!!!!!!!!! and the ONE lady doing the check in.... she was VERY nice... but she really needed to stop chatting and get registering! UGH! the real kicker is... they were READY to start registering people BEFORE 7.... but because it was 7... they wouldn't! again... never been at a ride where even though it wasn't "time"... that they wouldn't start if they were set up and ready!! SOOOOOOO instead of hanging out 10 minutes.... never assuming it would take so long if i came back a few minutes later... we went back to the car and finished getting ready.... unfortunately... that set a tone for the ride for me.... i dwelled on it for a while