People are Nice & Keep Pedaling

Stats Wed, Aug 4 – Carmichael (Sacramento) to Cooks Station, Day Distance 78.04; Ride time 8:50 total time on bike 6:20 -7:00 (12 h 40 m), Ave Speed 8:82: Total climbing 8,079 feet; Total Distance 188. The picture of the graphic shows the elevation gain from Placerville (2000’) to Carson Pass (8,573’). Cook’s Station is in the middle (5000’).

In Folsom a guy in a pickup with a bike mounted in the bed noticed that we looked a little bewildered about where to go. Our maps (created by adventurecycling.org) are not always accurate. This is not a complaint. Simply an observation. Local conditions change. Routes through towns get altered. Sometimes you kind of have to “sniff” your way around. Anyway, the guy in the pickup followed us into a parking lot and asked us if we needed any help. Clearly we looked like bicycle “tourists.” He gave us clarification. So nice.

I forgot to mention that the previous day when we were looking for Sacramento
Adventist Academy that a lady helped us with directions telling us to keeping following the current street for a number of blocks. She went on ahead. A few blocks ahead she actually pulled over and waited for us to catch up and then told us to keep going. Our nest turn was a little farther. I blew her a kiss as we pedaled by. People have been really nice.

Then just before Placerville another guy in another pickup did the same thing. He waited for a while to make sure we made an important turn to stay on route.

I don’t know what it is. It’s my paniers (touring bags) or Mickeys orange shirt. It’s pretty obvious were not regular cyclists.

Looking back to yesterday in Sacramento – all these people were on the American River Bike Trail – commuting or exercising. Riding faster than us. They all looked so clean and fresh. They reminded me of what one had referred to as the “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” in Yosemite. The “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” are day hikers out for maybe a couple of miles. No equipment. No water. Just flip flops and tee shirts. Not serious hikers.

Now, cyclists out for a 20 or 30 mile spin are like the “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd.” Actually, compared to long distance bicycle touring riders I have been a “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” bicyclist my whole life! And I will return to being such. But I have such a respect now for the long haulers. It’s not so much about speed at the moment. It’s about the experience of the whole day!

And this day seemed like the most challenging one day physical event I have ever experienced.
Climb, climb, climb. Drink, drink, drink. I ate a can of black beans at 10:00 am (along with a bagel and yogurt) . At 3:00 we stopped at a convenience store. I bought a can of pinto beans. In between 10:00 and 3:00 I have downed a Cliff Bar. I’m trying to eat. But I don’t have much of an appetite. My rear hurts. My knee is sore. (Climbing Mt. Whitney five days previous was probably not a good precursor to climbing the Sierras on Route 88)

Finally we made it to Cook’s Station. Mickey arrived about 20 minutes ahead of me (Mick is a great climber). And the restaurant was closed! It was 7:00. The owner of Cooks Station gave us a loaf of bread and a jar of almond butter – free. Tried to pay for it. Nope. She would not take anything. Took a shower with a garden hose. Downed two Advil PM. Slept on the deck of the restaurant.

Sometimes you can’t stop pedaling even when it hurts.