Slovang 2007

This year kicked off in Solvang,CA. We signed up for the 25th Anniversary ride. Chris and I are starting early this year so we can hit some goals. Big Poppa Beecher and Momma were already down there living up the life. We left Friday afternoon after they arrived to let the kids be kids with our kids.
It only took about 3 and 1/2 hours to get down there. It was a really pretty ride. I thought of taking K back down to Pismo Beach (where Bugs Bunny skats) after we drove through the town. Solvang was also very nice. We saw all the places that were on the Movie "Sideways". Downtown is a little German town. Our pad could not be in a beter place. IT was only one block from the start. We hung out with Wally and team that night and got our gear ready for the next day.
The Ride:\

It was cooooolld as we started in the morning. So we put on the layers. Wally loaned me his leg warmers since I was going to try and go without. I was glad he did that. The first 20 miles was just rolling hills. By then, the sun had come out and you could see all the vinyards and mountains. We stripped down our layers and kept rollin. The next 20 miles the wind was fierce. It picked me up a few times and blew me across the road. At mile 40 we said good-bye until the end of the day to Wally and we were on a nice paceline for another 30 miles. After one turn, the wind was at our backs....and AHHHHh we were movin. The hills came up and my Sierra Rd training kicked in. I felt really good. The ony thing that was hurting was my neck. The ride was very forgiving as you climbed up a big daddy hill only to be granted a 5 mile drop on the other side. All in all, we finished the ride in about 6+ hours. Big poppy came in about 1 hour after we arrived. It was a really great ride. Thanks to the Beechers for getting a place and sharing the experience.

Now for the next ride. The weather here is calling my name and the bike does not like to be in the garage.