It's the start of day six and it is raining. I have trained in the rain, but that does not mean I like it. We have 84 miles to go today and it will likely be slow. I do wonder if the line for food is in the rain too or if they have devised a way to keep dry for the 30 or so minutes one has to queue for food.

The announcements and talks last night lasted so long that I missed a wonderful talent show because I was in the tent by 21:15. Ugh, I can tell I am crabby this morning. Hopefully that does not last the majority of the day. Time to change this attitude around. Hard to do with the cackling of a young 20-some year old woman. Part of me wants to say, "shut up and let people get their coffee first." Seems quite obvious for 05:16. Again today I will not gather data on my drained-battery Garmin. If I do this ride again, I will stay in motels or hotels to avoid the chaos of everyone's thoughts and to have power. If I am on vacation, I still usually bring my laptop.

I am told that the scenery will be beautiful today. In 84 miles, the weather can change quite a bit. Ok, time to pack up and eat.

...wind. Today's ride was brutal at the end. We had winds continuously for 10s of miles of the 67. I keep thinking of a hill for headwind or hill for flats. Have I lost my mind that I want to swap out for more climbing?

Things I heard today:
"Manhole!" - consider the context.
"Heeeeere fucking little bikie..." - a woman trying to spot her bike amidst hundreds.
A loopy chuckle on a climb in the final headwinds onto Hwy 101.

Time for bed because I am falling asleep mid sentence. Tomorrow is another long ride of 84 or so miles.

It's 05:45 and I have just experienced multiple satisfaction sounds from an older man in a portaportie. Breakfast soon.

This was red-dress day. I was not too into it, but most people were enjoying themselves to the utmost.

The awesome 21% grade climb I sprinted up!
The elated feeling I have.
The riders who did not train properly.
The rider from mile 13 of day one.
The gopher.

The dinosaur.

The horses.

This blogging from a handheld is tricky. The things I enjoyed about today are the towns with smiling and waving people, the smells of all the produce fields, the rolling hills and beautiful CA landscape, the people who lack the need to reveal their thought processes aloud, the people who chose either "on your left" or "good morning" and not both. I have taken to not answer questions like, "are you coming or going?" as I pull my bike out of its parking spot, or "are you done with the shower?" as I am already toweling off. The power of observation, people.

It's interesting to note that so many of the female riders said "sorry" as they passed or were passed. Now grrrls out there, drop this word from your auto responses, or replace it with "pass the butt butter" so you can recognize how often you use it and its affect on communication exchanges. And that brings to mind the Bell from Hell, this high-pitched piece of shit that Ms. Rider dingdingdimgfimgdimgs continuously. When I start getting irritated, as people often make me so, no offense, I go off on my own as I am now. Sometimes a grrrl's gotta think and take on her surroundings. I am growing tired and I have to return this power brick to its papa. On your left, rider.