Here We Go Again! Southern Transcontinental 2015

Saturday, September 12, 2015
Pre-Ride day in San Diego
 
Sometimes you just can't get enough of a good thing.  Or enough pain and suffering.  Or both.  I guess that's why Art and I decided to embark on another PAC Tour bicycle adventure, where we'll again be traveling across the U.S. on our bicycles - from San Diego, California to Tybee Island, Georgia - in 27 leisurely days.  We first did this tour back in 2011, which I documented in this blog.  It will be interesting to see how different (or the same) the experience will be now that we are four years older (and wiser).  I don't necessarily feel older, but my age bracket has changed such that I am now getting solicitations from AARP on a regular basis.  Nevertheless, we are excited about this journey and sharing it with the 45 other riders we will basically be living with for the next month or so.  Remarkably, we already know almost half of the people in our group from having ridden with them on other PAC Tour rides, so this ride has become a reunion of sorts.    

We arrived in San Diego last night and had just enough energy to eat dinner and then assemble our bikes.  This morning we took our bikes for a test ride and, after a hearty breakfast, made the short 5-ish mile ride to Dog Beach, where we dipped our wheels in the Pacific Ocean to mark the start of our cross-country journey.  As the name implies, there were several dogs scampering around to help us celebrate the moment.  They were very excited for us, and demonstrated that excitement by almost knocking us over as we stood there for a photo.  We appreciated them graciously sharing their beach with us.

At 3:30, we gathered for our rider "orientation" meeting, followed by a wonderful buffet dinner of chicken parmigiana, vegetable lasagna, and various other delicious fare to provide good fuel for tomorrow's ride, which will take us up up up to the town of Julian, California.  Let the good times begin!

Breakfast of champions

My friend and esteemed colleague, Jim Salvie, of Stow, Mass., looking fly in his Pedal Power kit.

Fellow rider Jim of Des Moines, Iowa, Art and me dipping our wheels in the Pacific Ocean to ceremoniously commence the beginning of our journey.

Jonathan, Me, Jim and Art at Dog Beach.

Susan and Dennis cheerfully manning the registration area.

Lon delivering the rules, regulations and plenty of good advice at the rider meeting.