San Diego, California

Saturday Morning, 9 September

Day Zero – Arrival Day

Dog Beach, California
Dog Beach, California

Old friends, new friends arriving from all over the U.S., and other continents. Some people I recognize immediately.  Others, we stare at each other for maybe 15 seconds.  “I know you.”

“Yeah – was it the 2012 Northern?”

“No, I wasn’t on that one”.  Then we figure it was something like the 2008 Ridge Ride. Some people I haven’t seen for over ten years rekindle fond memories.  Pactour people generally never keep in touch.  We just show up for these events, then pick up from where we left off.

I can’t help but notice some physiques.  Two types in particular stand out.  Riders with broad chests and shoulders, muscular arms are the triathletes.  Perhaps they did a couple iron man competitions this year.  The skinny ones bordering on the brink of emaciation are the climbers.  I sort of looked like that last year.

Lots of stories to share – events of the past year, injuries and more.  Broken pelvis, ruptured achilles, broken ribs from falling off a trainer.  Other transcontinental rides from years I missed.

This morning at 6:15 am, a group  of maybe 15 early arrivals left for a short warmup ride to Dog Beach on Pacific Ocean, where some of the newbies dipped their rear wheel in the surf.

Martha just told me I’m riding tomorrow – most of the crew doesn’t want to do the climb.  I’m planning to give it a whirl in my Keene sandals and platform pedals – 77 miles, 8000 feet.  We’ll see how that works out…

Published by

Karl

Born in Harrisburg, PA. Undergrad at Drexel University. Learned to ride a bike when six years old, riding ever since. Started cooking when I was in college, stopped when I got married, started again in 2006 when my wife was out of town for a few months. Jobs: worked at post office while in college to earn money to buy a stereo. After grad school, worked at a small software company in Redmond, WA for twelve years. Afterwards, went back to school to get a certificate, then started teaching high school. Still doing that off and on, part time as the need arises.

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