I woke up and Beth cooked me bacon, eggs and oatmeal for breakfast. Plenty of energy to get me going! She then cycled with me down to her daughters coffee shop where the wifi was better and I was able to contact home. Doug had broken some ribs fairly recently so he followed us down in the car. There I met the whole family, including little 4 month old Lola who took great interest in my cycling helmet. Very cute!
I was on the road properly at 9:30, a little later than planned, and started down some really beautiful forest roads along the hillside. I followed it to Clipper gap, where I deviated from my planned route as Doug had showed me another way to go which would take me to a long bike path that runs from Folsom to Sacramento and would keep me off the roads.
After several miles on the road I reached Beals point and the start of the beautiful bike trail that runs along the American river. Plenty of other friendly cyclists to wave to! I met one who pulled up beside me and I asked him directions to a nearby bike shop as my cleats were less than useless now. He rode with me and gave me the last few directions to find a little bike shop in Arden not far from the trail. New cleats bought and fitted, and a brief stop at the next door froyo shop for a quick snack of frozen yogurt sandwiched between two oatmeal and raisin cookies, and it was back to the bike trail for the last section into Sacramento.
At the Sacramento end of the trail I took the exit and rejoined my route which went through 'Old Sacramento', a part of the city still maintained as an old western type town. I stopped for a few photos at the old 'Central Pacific Rail Road Depot' which had been converted into a museum and shops. I also had a turkey sandwich and fries at the 'Railroad fish and chips' shop to fill me up for the rest of the ride.
Out of Sacramento the wind picked up quite a bit as the terrain was now fairly flat with no real hills to stop the winds off the Pacific. It made it quite a struggle at the end of an extra long ride. I had only planned for a 96 mile day, but the deviation at the start to find the bike trail plus faffing around in Sacramento added another 13 miles to my day. Still, I managed to make it to my hosts (Patricks) house, where his housemate Grace had a roast cooked. I showered quickly as the smell made me very hungry indeed! Patrick also told me about 'Kombucha', a drink made of fermented green or black tea. It sounds like something to try one day!
So that leaves just one day left! Tomorrow I will ride about 70 miles around the bay to the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge before crossing my finish line. I'm very excited!
Miles today: 109.0
Total miles: 3218.1
I was on the road properly at 9:30, a little later than planned, and started down some really beautiful forest roads along the hillside. I followed it to Clipper gap, where I deviated from my planned route as Doug had showed me another way to go which would take me to a long bike path that runs from Folsom to Sacramento and would keep me off the roads.
After several miles on the road I reached Beals point and the start of the beautiful bike trail that runs along the American river. Plenty of other friendly cyclists to wave to! I met one who pulled up beside me and I asked him directions to a nearby bike shop as my cleats were less than useless now. He rode with me and gave me the last few directions to find a little bike shop in Arden not far from the trail. New cleats bought and fitted, and a brief stop at the next door froyo shop for a quick snack of frozen yogurt sandwiched between two oatmeal and raisin cookies, and it was back to the bike trail for the last section into Sacramento.
At the Sacramento end of the trail I took the exit and rejoined my route which went through 'Old Sacramento', a part of the city still maintained as an old western type town. I stopped for a few photos at the old 'Central Pacific Rail Road Depot' which had been converted into a museum and shops. I also had a turkey sandwich and fries at the 'Railroad fish and chips' shop to fill me up for the rest of the ride.
Out of Sacramento the wind picked up quite a bit as the terrain was now fairly flat with no real hills to stop the winds off the Pacific. It made it quite a struggle at the end of an extra long ride. I had only planned for a 96 mile day, but the deviation at the start to find the bike trail plus faffing around in Sacramento added another 13 miles to my day. Still, I managed to make it to my hosts (Patricks) house, where his housemate Grace had a roast cooked. I showered quickly as the smell made me very hungry indeed! Patrick also told me about 'Kombucha', a drink made of fermented green or black tea. It sounds like something to try one day!
So that leaves just one day left! Tomorrow I will ride about 70 miles around the bay to the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge before crossing my finish line. I'm very excited!
Miles today: 109.0
Total miles: 3218.1
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