Day 1

After the ceremony of the send off, I can only imagine what it felt like to start day one's 79 mile ride through the fog of San Francisco. Emotions and anticipation were high with so much unknown still ahead.

Last we saw Kristy she was smiling and strong. Hopefully she would feel the same after crossing the summit of the Santa Cruz mountains and rolling into camp.

A text beeped through just after 11:30 am that she was off her bike having lunch. The fact sheet for day one announced that lunch would be turkey and avocado sandwiches. Can you imagine making 2150 turkey and avocado sandwiches? :-) I think I remember Kristy saying that's what she had every day for lunch one week, so hopefully it was a good, familiar boost before the ascent ahead.

She also had expressed her nervousness about the tent mate she would not meet until getting to camp. Hard to imagine every ALC rider is not pretty cool, but understandable that one might feel a little shifty about such close quarters with a stranger.

Final camp of day one was near Santa Cruz. Kristy pinged in at 4:30 pm - 'just out of the showers and headed for dinner. It was a good day." Alice later relayed even better news after a call from Kristy. Kelly, the tent mate, registered "way cool" on the stranger-meter and Kristy's voice sounded elated!

Kristy's final words on the day - the day "was great. Beautiful scenery and a few killer hills!" I bet that all added up to one big grin and a sound night's sleep heading into day 2.