Day 2

  
 
The Century Challenge
    
 

   

Are you up for it? Not that we really have a choice (going straight to the Sag Wagon on day 2 doesn't seem like a cool thing to do). After our first night in the tent and with 90+ miles in the legs from the day before, our bodies aren't exactly embracing today's challenge, but as always, once you start pedaling your legs just keep going. Although we have our doubts many times over the last six months, it appears that training is not over rated...

Scenic beauty 103 miles on a bike seems pretty insane, but our Day 2 is fairly un-eventful. Aided by a STRONG tailwind on parts of the route, we crank through the miles in the same way as on all of our other rides: Little by little. Focusing only on the next Pit stop really helps mentally and before you know it, 100 miles have gone by. Between Santa Cruz and King City we encounter some spectacular scenery that pictures really can't do justice. Kurt wants to retire here (and in about 15 other spots we pass on the ride).

If you thought Chicago was the Windy City You would be wrong... King City is it. Although we don't encounter any flying tents this year, it is a common sight at the camp ground. Riding your bike at close to a 45 degree angle in a cross-wind is a strange feeling, and looking down at your computer while leasurely coasting along, only to see a speed of 31mph is pretty strange too. Good thing we aren't going the opposite direction.

Along with the usual announcements of the evening (such as media coverage, weather forecast, and pointers about tomorrow's route) comes also the nightly top ten list. It isn't the funnies thing you have ever heard, but the guy, who reads it knows this and still manages to get people to laugh. What is really funny every night, is Pat Kristensen (sp?) from the SF AIDS Foundation. Her account of the daily events are always hilarious and she quickly becomes the "can't miss it" thing of the day. A Mexican band ends a long day and no one seems to have any problems sleeping that night.