Glorious sunshine greeted me for two long weeks, Cuba, You a mix of old and new, socialism and capitalism, opulence and decay, my ex-capital city, the center of all things Cuban. Walking through Old Havana is like walking back in time, but the swinging nightlife and cultural scene quickly bring you back to present day.

Cuba...You owed me family and a few other things: My friends, my streets, my sky, my food, my favorite river and the blue water that cover the white sands plus Mojito, pork and Cuba Libre, yes we had a debt to settle!!! You called my name and I was there.... ;-) Yes Cuba, You has been the best of 2010 so far ...... And then ALC 9 almost without thinking about it you here, no remembering the training like other years but I guess my body already knows what to do after 6 year of doing this incredible ride.

Work took most of my 2009 and 2010 by storm; still I can hear the laugh of our group in the countless weekends working for axiUm, then the training/settings, then the Google for the students, then our group …. Yes, it has been an interesting years but I love the challenge!!

Today Cow palace brought back great memory of those that are gone. (Dan we love you and think of you always) I was able to see those that have become my family just a week a year and those that are always there and ride with me every year.

so, ..there are seven days of riding, and each day is different. We’ll ride an average of 80 miles a day, over varying terrain. One day, we will ride a flat route along the coast or through artichoke and strawberry fields, the next we will ride through fog banks and foothills. The course is designed to be challenging but completely doable. No matter what, we can count on the constant presence of our Roadies on the route, who help keep everyone safe and sound.

Tomorrow we are riding from San Francisco to Santa Cruz

6 years doing this ride, it's incredible but also for all those that actually are no riding. The supporters, the friends and neighbors that are always thinking and helping us in any way they can. Michael for example our neighbor has been driving us for the last 6 years to Cow Palace and taking care of Trek for a week that is really huge and very special.

Cow Palace seemed empty today for whatever reason, less riders, visitors, family? Not sure but we do have less riders this year.

Today was a very nice ride – 80 miles. The weather was perfect most of the day, in the morning the fog was very strong and wet, it was just like it was raining. In the beginning, I was riding very fast with Paul and he just got a big flat. After that, I rode most of the time by myself , thinking and enjoying the beautiful view of the California coast. Amazing!

I got to the camp at 12:30pm with the first group of around 20 riders. It was great to just get the tent up and take a shower with no line.

Today the pie's ladies were not there. They usually are about 8 miles from the camp with ice cream and pies... I just to love it and missed it a lot today

Now here at the same coffee place, everyone is so happy to see us and the ladies here remember us each time..

I got say that the getting to the camp feels so wonderful and it's one of the best times of this ride. We meet people and laugh a lot. Yesterday all the boy got together for coffee, then after some stretching went to dinner. I saw my angels ladies and it was fun and good to talked to them.

Today was an amazing 107 miles. We woke up very early 4:45am and were ready by 6:15am in the beginning of the riders line. I rode with Paul from the beginning and all the long. It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect because we left very early we rode most of the begining with the faster riders and then later on rode “Solo” around 90 miles

We decided not to stop at lunch and go to Peet’s coffee and food store to get chicken strips and a sandwich, that was the best idea. I am tired of the long cold turkey ham sandwiches.

I like to ride with Paul, we make a good team together (dahhh!!), supporting each other on the long hills and flats.

I am so glad that we done for the day, we got my massage, showered, and now with my computer at startbucks.. life is good

Today's ride was actually fun, "Quad buster" which is 1500 feet elevation for 1.3 miles ... Wake out time around 5:00am and we ready at breakfast by 6:00am. I rode with other friends today as I was looking forward for lunch at the Bradley elementary school.

After lunch I rode very fast back to the camp. Riding on 101 is not very fun the road is a complete mess. dangers!

Again I decided to ride by myself the last 20 miles; I rode fast, enjoying the nice weather, the view and riders. I got to camp around 11:25am.

After getting the tent up and taking a nice shower we went for a coffee at starbucks

It's nice for me to have a computer around for a while. I connected to work answeers some emails and make some conenction with few vendors. Life is good. I am very hungry today, so I am looking forward to Dinner. Saludos Raybel  

Today was a long 97 miles, the weather was perfect but I think everyone agrees that our body is really tired. A lot of people is looking for medical attention or streching a lot at the end of the ride. Me, not sure why but I do not need to strech as much. I am really tired though.

hey.. drink before you are thirsty and eat before you are hungry, that is our rule here...the rest is just push and push you will get there.

Today first the 'Evil Twin's four mile 1,762 feet ascension, and then tah dah the half way to LA. We stop for the pictures. Ginger is always on the road making sure that everyone has a smile on their faces.

So many people from different countries, race, sex, sexual preference, different religion, working class and HIV status etc.. that is why I like this ride so much. I am getting to know many new riders this year and it's great!.
After '1/2 way' pictures, we had a long ten mile ride down hill. Then Paul & I rode trough amazing views of the California coast. It’s breath taking to be able to see this part of the country.

At lunch we decided not to go to the ALC stop and went for coffe/Sandwich .

The camp today is one of my favorite very spacious, and we have a great weather today.
Tomorrow is a short day. Only 45 miles. It's called "Red dress day" and you will see why.....

Besos.
 

Red Dress day is just a fun ride where most of the riders wear something red and many of them including the straight guys and lesbians wear a red dress.. ;-)

Wake up time today was 5:00am. Paul had bought 3 red dress (50th style) We gave one to Frucan, Ian's ten mate,it was great start.

The morning ride went very fast, we saw everything from guys with only red underwear to ladies with cowboys boots. We waited for Ian most of the stops but he was no where to be found, then later we found each other in rest stop 3. This ride was changed, so now we are not riding to Casmalia, instead we take a road trough the mountains adding 25 miles to the old ride. This new one is very hard and very very windy. Everyone was exhausted because of the wind. OMG sometimes, you could not even move.

The people was having a lot of fun with the dresses and the costumes but at the end were like dying. It felt like 100 miles. Ian, Paul and I rode to Starbucks; then we went to camp.



Tonight talent show was okay, I have seen better years before. We are going to bed…. Tomorrow my favorite day on the ride… 87 miles to Ventura!  

Oh Yeah just another year...I will miss this ride a lot....Today, the weather was perfect, not like last year ... so wet and raining all day long. We had pour last breakfast and thenleft the camp. We knew that we had to wait until 9:00am to leave red stop 2. We got there around 8:00am.

We rode very fat after the open the road. We decided not to go to lunch and went for our favority spot Galson Store with two friends, then later on Art came and we stayed with him for few mins.

5 miles from that lunch was ICE-CREAM! gooooood…

We rode without stopping in any of the rest stop was around 30 miles but we wanted to be at camp earlier.

Tonight is going to be the candle light vigil at the beach, very emotional seremony...Tomorrow the last day .. ;((((((….!

Besos...  

Fun Facts

Participants:

• 1,800+ cyclists
• 425+ volunteer roadies
• Oldest: 78-years-old
• Youngest: 18-years-old
• 40 states are represented
• 7 countries are represented: (U.S., France, Germany, Holland, England, Canada, Israel, China, Spain)

Travel Route:

• 585 miles
• 55 towns/jurisdictions
• 8 counties