Trans Am Ride Begins

Stats: Tues, Aug 3 – San Francisco to Carmichael, CA (Sacramento Adventist Academy)

Day distance 110 miles; 8:20 ride time; total time 8:30 – 6:45 (10 h 15 m), Ave Speed 13.19, Total Climbing 2,703 feet; Total Distance 110

Route / Day Description: Started in fog at Golden Gate. Heard a ship’s fog horn blow as we rode across the bridge. Fog persisted as we took the ferry from the SF Ferry Building to Vallejo and continued to blanket the countryside until we reached Benecia (about 10:00). Late morning the sun was out but the air was cool as rolled through Rockville, Fairfield, and skirted Vacaville. By the time we reached Davis it was hot. We stopped for lunch about 2:30 at an eatery in the UC Davis area. After that it was HOT as we plodded into Sacramento and beyond toward Carmichael (reminded me of Texas). West of Sacramento we had about an 8 mile stretch of a bike trail that immediately next to the WB lanes of I – 80 (an elevated section of the highway). It was horribly noisy and hot. By the time we reached downtown Sacramento we were 90 miles into the ride and thought we had another 12 miles or so to go. It wound up being another 20 miles!

People / Experiences: all people we talked to were very friendly. That’s an f…ing great thing you are doing remarked one. A lady clerk in a convenience story told Mickey that she would pray for him. One pickup that passed us on a rural road rudely honked his horn when he had plenty of room to accommodate us. In Sacramento we rode the American River Bike Trail from downtown out toward Carmichael. The ARBT is a 30 mile trail leading to Folsom Lake. Many people were out riding and a few were jogging. We passed a club of about 15 who were assembling for a group ride. Soon they passed us. I was worn out but feeling their draft and receiving their questions lifted me. Quickly I joined their pace line – gear and all and began chatting. Where are you going? Virginia. Wow, cool. That’s on my bucket list. What do you think will be your hardest climb? And so the questions flew.

I was amazed at how much energy I all of the sudden had. Insight: how much easier it is when you have a group of friends who are with you to lift you through the weariness of life.

Also – with Mick on the ride with me there are two. We watch each other’s stuff when one had to use the restroom of wants to go into a store. Having another is good. Having many others is even better.