Day Zero

The boys are ready to ride.

Why I ride.

Jet Blue 6 hours and 6 minutes wheels up to wheel down…piece of cake…let’s see how long it takes to get back!

So here we are at the palatial Holiday Inn Express Burlingame.

Yesterday went super smooth except for when Robb walked away from me at SFO. Fortunately he’s learned how to use a cell phone and I vectored him back to baggage carousel 12. Molly, my seatmate from the flight felt pretty strongly that I should get one of those retractable leashes that best-practice moms use with their kids at Walmart. Good idea but it may be difficult once we start riding.

Ace mechanic Gerard had our bikes assembled in no time with the help of our new friend Judy Clawson from Sudbury (henceforth referred to as JC, the savior in the van). We were welcomed by trail mother, Michelle, got our paperwork processed…some people think Arizona is weird but Utah clearly has their crime fighting priorities straight…they want all riders to sign some bizarre legal form prior to pedaling onto their roadways! While all this super important stuff was happening the ever efficient Alex was keeping everything neat and organized in the reception area.

This morning at 8am about 10 of us went on a fabulous shake-out-the-cobwebs 25 mile easy ride on the SF Bay Bike Path. Picture perfect weather and I know at least one of my ardent readers will be surprised to hear that we had not a single pedal strike on the entire trip.

Official orientation is at 3pm today but we’ve already met about half the 29 participants. The bulk of them, as suspected, appear to be “older” guys (50+) but there are some youngsters and 8 or 9 women. They’re from all over the country and one guy is from New Zealand. Only one other rider from New England who happens to be one of the famous Hurley’s from South Boston. We plan to have lots of new friends when this is over.

Divine intervention already on Day 0…the one thing I somehow overlooked in my packing nearly had me thrown out of this morning’s peleton. I forgot my deodorant! Well this turned out to be a most excellent omen because Robb and I wandered over to downtown Burlingame looking for Walgreen’s and what do we find next door…the sole location of Preston’s Ice Cream where they’ve been scooping cones since 1949…mocha chip, espresso coffee, Almond Joy, and double dutch (highly recommended DARK chocolate). The goal is to discover a Preston’s everyday.

Are we lucky or what!