Day One started at The Cow Palace in Daly City, just outside the San Francisco city limits. The Cow Palace had also served as the Orientation site the day before. Early Sunday morning - beginning around 5:00 am - we all assembled for Opening Ceremonies and to begin the ride out to Santa Cruz. Scott and I went straight to our bicycles upon arrival to attach some equipment and make sure we were ready to go. I have enough trouble finding my car in a parking lot, let alone my bicycle in a room full of 2,500 bicycles of roughly the same size and many of the same type and color. The photo below shows you just a tiny piece of the madness that was bike parking...
After grabbing some fruit and banana bread, we headed into Opening Ceremonies in the Cow Palace arena - an area generally used to parade prized bulls and livestock - where we were promptly instructed in a stretching session set to a techno/house beat. Once we were all loosened up, the ceremonies got underway. Each day either started or ended with messages from the heads of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. These opening ceremonies also included a procession of memorial banners that would be filled in by participants throughout the week to come, as well as a riderless bicycle and helmet symbolizing all of the men and women who have died from HIV and AIDS. The entire procession became a very emotional event for everyone in the arena.
Once the ceremonies were over, it was all hands on deck - off to bike parking and out onto the road, where a large crowd of supporters had already gathered to see us off. As unorganized as 2,500 people trying to leave one place at one time on their bicycles can be, I think it went off pretty well. We were off on a route that would take us about 79 miles to Santa Cruz. The route Day One included some pretty large hills up Highway 92 toward Skyline Drive, past San Francisco International Airport, and along the Pacific Coast. We saw a brief glimpse of the scene that would dominate the next couple days as well, the lush agricultural fields of Northern and Central California.
One highlight in the day came as we rounded a corner to full view of the Pacific. On the horizon floated tens of colorful kites tethered to people surfing below. The image evoked memories of people flying kites at the Washington Monument in DC. I stopped for photographs here to share the sight.
All along the route - EVERY DAY - we were assisted by teams of volunteers who were responsible for hauling our gear, cooking our food, taking care of our medical needs, sweeping the route, and operating each of four daily rest stops (plus water stops and lunch). Among the most memorable groups each day were the boys of Rest Stop 4 - each day presenting a different theme.
Day One, the boys hosted us at the Bakersfield Badminton Club. It was quite a sight - all these guys running around posing for photos in little country club-style shorts, striped socks, polos and cardigans. I was only just beginning to witness what made Rest Stop 4 something to look forward to each day.
We made it to camp in the middle of the afternoon. Camp was located in a park on the outskirts of Santa Cruz. A hot shower and dinner were a wonderful way to start the evening. Scott and I went to dinner and ended up making some friends that would reemerge from time to time throughout the rest of the week - notably Dennis, David and Raul.
I didn't waste much time getting to sleep after the nightly ALC news. The next day was to be 105 miles to King City. I needed to rest up!
YOU CAN VIEW A SUMMARY OF DAY ONE from ALC 7 on YouTube!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OFFICIAL ALC PHOTOS FROM THE RIDE, SORTED BY DAY!
NEXT! DAY TWO: SANTA CRUZ TO KING CITY!
No comments:
Post a Comment