I couldn't sleep well that night. My sleeping bag etc. was dry, I just had a lot on my mind. I wound up waking up at 3:45 AM and walking down to the beach. The full moon was stunning and I sat and watched it shimmer on the Pacific for a while. Then went and had my breakfast before starting my last shift in food service. The night before Matt and Bud had offered to take me out on the road as the official water and ice mascot for the day and I jumped at the chance to get a good look at the route. Breakfast was a bit bittersweet. I was very much going to miss my teammates and seeing the determined riders fueling up for their day, but I wasn't going to miss the hours!!
After breakfast, I joined up with the water and ice team. They drive from rest stop to rest stop along the route and pick up the unused bottles of water and dispose of any left over ice. It's a great way to see the route and all the cyclists along the way. Today's ride in particular was quite beautiful, since the rain the day before had cleared all traces of smog out of the Southern California air! The sea was blue along the cliffs of Malibu. At one of the rest stops we saw a long line of like 10 guys showing off their Ferraris . . . and perhaps we were being jealous but there were many jokes about the probable annoying nature of the drivers of those cars. (Many of them revolving around the drivers being the cure for that "not so fresh feeling.")
Once we'd gathered up all the unused water we had lunch with the trash pick up team and then drove off to closing ceremonies. My ride was already there to pick me up so I couldn't stay for the closing ceremonies. As we drove away from the ride I was in a daze. I was happy to see my friends from LA who were picking me up, but I felt like the ride was over too soon at the same time it had seemed like a lifetime, not just a week since we'd left the Cow Palace in SF.
After breakfast, I joined up with the water and ice team. They drive from rest stop to rest stop along the route and pick up the unused bottles of water and dispose of any left over ice. It's a great way to see the route and all the cyclists along the way. Today's ride in particular was quite beautiful, since the rain the day before had cleared all traces of smog out of the Southern California air! The sea was blue along the cliffs of Malibu. At one of the rest stops we saw a long line of like 10 guys showing off their Ferraris . . . and perhaps we were being jealous but there were many jokes about the probable annoying nature of the drivers of those cars. (Many of them revolving around the drivers being the cure for that "not so fresh feeling.")
Once we'd gathered up all the unused water we had lunch with the trash pick up team and then drove off to closing ceremonies. My ride was already there to pick me up so I couldn't stay for the closing ceremonies. As we drove away from the ride I was in a daze. I was happy to see my friends from LA who were picking me up, but I felt like the ride was over too soon at the same time it had seemed like a lifetime, not just a week since we'd left the Cow Palace in SF.
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