Day 6

Is it already Day 6?  It’s flown by so quickly…

Today was a slow day for us in Sweep, which is a good thing. Our job is one of those jobs where being bored is a good thing. People seemed to pace themselves better. Some finally felt OK to take it easy, even to take the day off. Tomorrow’s the big day so it’s better to rest.

Most of the day for the cyclists was spent cruising along the beautiful coastal highways of Southern California. It was slightly overcast and cool, which is good for the cyclist. At several points they took the well maintained bike paths through parks, along beaches with dolphins and surfers. (Those of us in cars had to make ridiculous detours just to catch up with them.)

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In many communities the local teachers bring out their students to cheer on the riders. The grade school kids make signs of encouragements with crayons on craft papers and wave and scream from the sidewalks. They see our Bunny Van go by and just giggle with delight. I know from talking to the cyclists that these local cheer teams really make their day and their painful butt and legs and general aches worthwhile.

What I found interesting was that most often these lovely school kid cheering squads, along with smiling parents, happen in low income and marginal communities. The kids of farm workers come out to make us happy and write us letters. This doesn’t happen in the super wealthy communities that we ride through, with the polo clubs and mega mansions facing the pretty beaches.

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Speaking of cheering squads and love from the community.

Thank you so much to the crew that makes Paradise Pit possible! Paradise Pit, in Santa Barbara, I am told, is an unofficial rest stop originally organized by former participant. It’s on one of those triangular park islands in an intersection. Palm trees are strung with rainbow balloons. The local ice cream shop, McConnell’s, provides the ice cream. UCSB students provide cookies, brownies and other sweets. They also had the sweetest fresh strawberries! Mmmm!  The local massage therapists had tables for the riders. Water and juices galore. The local waste management company provided the trash service and porta potties. (We were all excited that they were ‘luxury’ porta potties with fresh water, soap and paper… instead of the hospital skin scrub gels.  Oh the simplicity of life on ALC. We get so excited about the simplest things!)  Paradise Pit is something that all the riders and roadies look forward to. You should see the pure delight and child like smiles light up the faces of all these grizzled and exhausted cyclists! 

I just think it’s soooo cool that some folks got together to make this possible and then got loads of sponsors of local businesses, organization and individuals to make it even more fantastic.

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Today we began the process of a new kind of rider loss and rider attrition. It’s not going to be to equipment failure and fatigue. As we head into Brentwood / Los Angeles, we’re losing them to food and coffee. Today I spotted many in coffee joints, pizza parlors, and other delicious detours.

We’re sick and tired of chicken (in every possible form) and Clif Bars.

I carry my own snacks for this very reason.

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I have to go soon… The evening dinner announcements will begin soon and then it’s the candle light procession and vigil on the beach… for our lost lovers, friends and families… for those who can’t be with us…  2000 candles and a world of love and tears.

Please, if you don’t mind, light a candle and have a moment a silence with us for them tonight.

Thank you,

Love

Midori

Comments

[Mary]

Midori,

Thanks for the shout out to "Paradise Pit". Rod does do a great job orgainizing it every year.

This was my second year volunteering at "The Pit" and I enjoyed scooping ice cream almost as much as you guys appeared to enjoy eating it.

Hope rest of your ride goes well. Thanks for riding!