Saturday, September 10
Well, if we have one thing going for us on this trip, it's that we live on the east coast, which makes it easy to get up early on the west coast. We felt good and rested when we woke up at 5:00 a.m. It was a cool morning, probably in the low 60's. Today's agenda included (1) checking in with PAC Tour, where we would be given our packet of maps and route sheets, and (2) making the 12-mile round trip to the Pacific Ocean, into which we would ceremoniously dip our wheels to mark the official beginning of our cross-country trek. Around 11:00, Art & I, together with about six of our fellow riders, left the Best Western and made the short six mile trip to Mission Beach. We didn't get too many stares from the beachgoers as we pranced across the sandy beach to the shoreline, carrying our bikes in one hand and our shoes in the other (no one likes sandy bike shoes or a sandy bike chain). After the wheel-dipping ceremony, we took a longer route back to the hotel, for a grand total of about 18 miles for the day. Later in the afternoon, we gathered for a group meeting, where Lon Haldeman and his wife, Susan Notorangelo, owners and operators of PAC Tour and multiple-time winners of the Race Across America, conducted an orientation meeting for our group. Lon & Susan shared with us a lot of useful advice about long-distance riding and how to endure the tougher days. After the meeting, we had a pleasant group dinner on the hotel's pool patio.
It was a nice ride and a beautiful day. Looking forward to tomorrow - officially "Day 1" of the tour - with great anticipation and excitement - and, of course, some nervous knots.
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| At the PAC Tour check-in station in the hotel's parking lot. |
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| Seconds after this picture was taken, the tide came in and dipped our wheels for us. |
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