I rode 64 miles and put in 7 hours on the saddle from 9 am till 6:30 pm and landed in Willows, CA. Google maps did fail me today...their route offered some circuitous detour I couldn't figure out how to follow, but it seemed to take me 20 miles out of the way in order to connect Hwy 20 with the bike-friendly frontage road I sought to parallel the bicycle-prohibitive I-5 when a simple "left turn before the overpass" was all that was needed! Thank you to Mom for map reading skills over the phone, as well as the gentleman in the truck who saw my lost looking face as I struggled with my paper directions and my cell phone. I was grateful for his deft redirection back on course! I thought about spending the night somewhere along the I-5 corridor and riding the last 65 miles or so tomorrow morning. It's pretty flat and I'm maintaining about 10-12 mph but it was so hot (certainly over 100!) and the central valley sun was so strong that even reapplying my sunscreen twice made no difference to my toasted arms and calves (my arms look like neopolitan ice cream with my two jersey sleeve lengths!). Also, it's Friday, and it would be nice to spend some extra weekend time with my mom, so I called in support! Mom was willing to drive the whole 3.5 hours down to the Hwy 20 junction, but I wasn't quite done riding for the day. We coordinated a restaurant meeting place in Willows, about an hour drive for her (saving me a whole day's ride!). I was grateful for the inspiration of food, water, salts, and air conditioning as I continued up the road with my sarong around my waist for leg shade.
I feel a little bad knowing that my bro is riding on 299 over some bigger mountain passes and twister roads than I was on today and I caught a ride and who knows if he'll be in reception range to know that a ride is available if he chooses it! Tomorrow, taiko drumming in Mt. Shasta. Very excited about this. Now to bed. Will continue to catch up in the am!
No comments:
Post a Comment