I rode with Rick for a while during the double. I hope everything will be ok Rick. I know everyone likes to read Rick's posts, me included even when I've ridden the double with Rick. How do you remember everything? Anyway I hope it is ok that I posted my experiences on this double.
The first double of the season, February of course the weather will be iffy and it was. When I looked at the Weather Channel it said it was going to rain until around 6am, starting at 5:30 that should be about a ½ hr. or so. I didn’t put my fenders or raincoat on because it wasn’t raining when I went outside, mistake. As soon as we started it started raining and it rain for about 1 ½. The rain made the painted lines in the streets a little slippery and of course I got wet but it wasn’t cold.
By the time we hit the coast it had stopped raining, the sun was coming out and it was warming up. The next few hours were spent pedaling down the coast with various riders, stopping at the mini stop and visiting with Jon. The first rest stop was run by John Long and was well stocked with goodies. I sampled them and then dropped off some of my clothes. After we left the stop we had to ride under I-5 in the mud and water, oh so much fun. After the mud its a few miles then you get to ride on I-5 for 7 miles to Oceanside. Once off I-5 it’s onto the bike path heading east towards lunch.
At lunch I visited with Lori working the stop, had a Subway sandwich, took a few minutes rest and visited with other riders. 200 yards after leaving lunch you make a left turn and start climbing, nice long hill, a full stomach, but having ridden this ride before I knew not to eat too much because of the climb. I caught up with Justine checking her directions and then Frank on his fixie and we started riding together. At a stop sign Foster and Linda on their tandem caught us and there were five of us riding together.
We were on the bike path back into Oceanside into a pretty stiff headwind when we found the much needed mini stop with Jon from the morning mini stop. Now it’s back on I-5 heading north to only go through the mud filled underpass again. At the rest stop we put on our lights and warm clothing for the evening’s ride to the finish. We picked up a couple more riders after the rest stop, Kerin and her friend. The ride is back loaded with most of the big hills at the end. On the way up one of the roads Linda said we were stopping at Burger King for a break and a restroom, little did I know it was also for a burger and a coke, what a treat. A few miles later there was a rest stop that we stopped long enough to get our card signed then hit the road.
A few climbs and then we were dropping down to Irvine and the finish. Done, it wasn’t the fastest double I’ve done but I had a great time visiting with the rest stop workers, thank you for being there, and the riders I rode with.
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Make mine a double!