Steve's Cycling Blog

I left home around 3:40 am for the event that starts in Solvang, a quaint little Danish Town in central California not too far north of Santa Barbara.  I had fog and drizzle the whole way on the 2 hour drive to the ride start. I was really hoping it wasn't going to be like that on the whole ride. After I went through Gaviota Pass conditions got somewhat better and the drizzle stopped. It was overcast and not too cold at the ride start, The Royal Copenhagen Hotel. Planet Ultra, the event Organizers have used this start location many times. It is right on the main drag into town. I went in and checked in for the ride and opted to do the second start time. They had two start time windows. 6am and 6:45 am (first light). I hung out with a few friends at check in before getting my bike ready for the roll-out. I saw my friend, Bruno at the start and we ended up riding together the whole ride. Bruno supported me on the last 150 miles or so of the Grand Tour Triple Century Staff...

 Clovis California, the start location for the ride, is a neat little western town with lots of history just East of Fresno. It has been a few years since I have done this ride and it is one of my favorites. I used to fly to Bass Lake airport with my Dad for camping when I was younger. For those of you who are old enough to remember, there used to be a airport on the North end of the lake jutting out into the lake like a peninsula.  The airport is no more but the lake still looks as beautiful as I remember. I don't know how many times I swam and kayaked across that lake when I was a kid. I arrived Friday in the afternoon and went for a short little spin around town to prime the legs for the mornings ride. I checked in and got my ride number so I wouldn't have to do it in the morning. The ride organizer reminded me not to miss the turn to Millerton this year. My friends Chris, Paul and I had missed a critical turn in the dark in 08 that sent us way out...