Showing posts with label Best Buddies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Buddies. Show all posts

October 14, 2023

Ride Together

Look on the bright side: it could have been wetter. Mist, then drizzle, speckled my spectacles. My gloves were soaked, my hands chilled, and I should have worn wool socks.
Today marked the 20th anniversary Best Buddies ride in California, and my 17th. I'd been uncertain about riding this year; it feels like the ride's shift to October in Marin all but ensures wet weather (and slippery pavement). Still, I support the mission. And I hadn't managed to visit the venue's gallery last year.

This year's event included a shorter route, and I was relieved to dial it back. The past two years I'd rolled in at the tail end of lunch, despite pushing myself close to the limit. This year I wanted to enjoy the post-ride celebration.

I was also looking forward to a change in scenery. We escaped the wetness as we headed inland, which afforded some lovely views of the Nicasio Reservoir.

With one rest stop and a couple of photo stops, I managed to roll across the finish line 3 hours, 12 minutes after I'd started: completing 38 miles and more than 1,600 feet of climbing (give or take).

I had plenty of time to get cleaned up and head up the hill for lunch—where, for once, I was an early bird. I was delighted for the chance to chat with Cam Wurf, who provided some hilarious context for our memorable first encounter. He's an all-around nice guy, which is true of everyone I've met through this organization and its events.
A woman at an adjacent table was moved to tears when Best Buddies Amabassador and rapper “Flava Fran” performed the piece she'd written about the impact Best Buddies has had on her life. She wasn't fazed last night when the room erupted in laughter and applause; like a seasoned pro, she waited for the room to settle down and said “I'm not done, there's more.”

Last night, Lisa Loeb(!) followed Fran to perform two of her songs: Stay (I Missed You), and Another Day. When thinking about which songs to share with us, she'd recognized a metaphor in the latter one: for world events at this moment in time, for the challenges faced by folks with disabilities, and for the event that brought us here.

But everybody knows that life can change like the weather
And everybody wants the things they know to stay the same
But we’re not gonna last forever
And nothing’s ever meant to stay
But while we’re on this ride together, let’s do it for another day

October 15, 2022

Leveled Up

As the years ticked by, I would sometimes wonder how many more 100-mile editions of the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge I could complete. I imagined that a day would come when I'd scale it back to the 100 km route (as I did for the loop route in 2018, when the temperature soared). Every trip down the coast was different; if 2019 was to be our last, we were blessed with a beautiful day.

Who expected the world around us would change? After 2020's do-it-yourself challenge, we (cautiously) gathered for a small event in the hills of Marin last year. On the heels of that success, the ride returned this year—but to a different (and incomparable) venue.

I was grateful to stretch my legs on a short hike before dinner after Friday's long drive. And dinner, well ... it was my first indoor dinner since The Before Times. [This will be fine ...] A majestic dining room, filled with tables of humans seated elbow to elbow—some of whom had traveled internationally for this event. Like Thomas Pidcock, who'd joined our little afternoon hike.
It was a special privilege to be a guest in this amazing place. (Not to mention being spared the stress of navigating a twisty rural road before dawn to get here and get ready to ride.)
What a joy it was simply to step outside and roll my bike to the start line!
To finish with enough time to get cleaned up and enjoy lunch, I needed to maintain a brisk pace. No time to admire the redwoods as we pedaled through Samuel P. Taylor State Park.

We rode a clockwise loop this year, heading north on Highway 1 past Tomales Bay. [Is it ever sunny here?] At least the mist was lighter this year; no drizzle.

In the weeks leading up to today, I'd been putting in the miles with after-work rides, following up with some weekend climbing and more distance. [It paid off.] I kept the lead group in sight for miles. The route started with a five-mile descent ... which we would reverse at the end, to reach the finish line. [Gulp.] And the route profile showed a significant climb at mile 54.
I've biked many of these roads before, in the opposite direction. I paused briefly at Laguna Lake; surely there were still many people behind me? Few had passed me, and I'd passed a few.

We were well-supported by a team of domestiques, outfitted with race-caliber radios. I didn't need their physical assistance, but with their companionship and friendly conversation I stopped focusing on how many miles remained.

I finished the route—72 miles, less than 4,000 feet of climbing—at an average (moving) pace of 13.6 mph. (My fastest pace for a Best Buddies Challenge since 2014.) And yet, I was still one of the last riders across the line. How could that be?

Well. When I'd asked a domestique about the folks behind us, he explained that most would be “taking the car.” [Sigh.] I'm a rare old bird (who doesn't act her age). I actually want to do the whole ride.

And I did.

October 30, 2021

Rainy Day Woman

The traditional Hearst Castle Challenge was infeasible this year (again), but Best Buddies still counts on our fundraising to support their operations. And we all miss the opportunity to come together. Thus, the California Challenge was born: one route (100 km), with a heftier fundraising commitment. Or, a do-it-yourself ride (like last year), with no fundraising commitment.

And so I found myself self-administering my very first Covid test (in my car, parked in a field, before dawn). [This would have been a fumble-fest had I not watched an instructional video the night before.] Not only was vaccination a pre-requisite for participating—a negative test result was required to walk out of the parking lot.

And so I found myself welcomed with an unexpected and enthusiastic hug at the sign-in table—the first actual physical human touch I've had since The Before Times. I think of myself as just another face in the crowd, but after so many years ... they know me. And not just because I'm always one of the last riders across the finish line.

I wasn't sure what to expect. Domestiques (in their bright pink jerseys) would support three groups of riders, the slowest of which would finish the ride in four hours. (Four hours?!) I worried about how this would play out; I knew I could not sustain a pace in excess of 15 mph over this route, and hoped they wouldn't nudge me to climb into a SAG vehicle.

The heavy hitters (20 mph pace group) flew ahead, supported by pro cyclists ... including four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Child's play, for them.

We started out with a rude climb, vaguely familiar from the Marin Century—and just as misty. This would not be a day for snapping scenic photos; I had to keep pedaling at a good clip. But the glassy surface of Laguna Lake was too compelling to pass up.

I'm accustomed to solo efforts on long rides—I'm too slow to hang with the jackrabbits, but faster than the slowest folks. After catching up to me, the indomitable Richard Fries was my domestique for a short stretch. Sitting on his wheel for a mile or two made such a difference! And sure, I understand that advantage ... it's just not part of my routine cycling experience.

There was a chance of rain today, on the order of 30% or so ... the odds seemed in our favor. Mist ... turned to drizzle ... turned to rain, calling for prudence on otherwise fast descents. It had been chilly enough that I'd opted to wear a jacket and long-fingered gloves [good call]; many riders had nothing more than jerseys and arm warmers.

At the second (and last) rest stop, some onlookers asked if I was going to continue. [Silly question.] Of course. Once you're wet, you're wet. And fortunately, it wasn't cold.

I didn't think much of it when the ride's medical support pulled out behind me when I started rolling. The road kicked up and they patiently hung back as crawled up the hill at my pathetic pace (as slow as 5 mph, at times). Once there was a clear line of sight, I waved and expected them to pass me.

But ... they didn't.

With 23 miles to go, they had evidently been assigned to be my escort. While domestiques hung back with the slowest riders, I had my own personal ambulance metering vehicular traffic. Once there were four or five cars stacked up behind, they'd slip slightly onto the shoulder and let them pass. I stopped at a pull-out at the top of a hill to take in some much-needed calories; there was also a police cruiser there, and I thought they might park there for a spell.

Nope.

At one point they even activated the flashing lights; maybe there were some antsy drivers behind them, as my uphill pace dropped below 5 mph. Of course, there were some downhill sections, so I managed to average 12.8 mph over the last 23 miles. But still. Imagine tailing a (slow) cyclist for ... nearly ... two ... hours.

I didn't get a chance to find them and thank them at the end of the ride, but I did get to deliver a long-overdue thank-you to Cam Wurf for his memorable assist seven years ago.

After 64 slippery miles and 3,560 feet of climbing, a warm shower and lunch fortified me for the long drive home. My 15th year of pedaling (and raising funds) for Best Buddies delivered another ride to remember!

October 4, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 15

There are many advantages to riding in an organized event: rest stops with food, water, and portable toilets, and SAG (support-and-gear) vehicles that can save your day. As I thought about designing a suitable ride of my own for this year's Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge, I regrettably decided against attemping a 100-mile ride. Restrooms, food, and water are not reliably available; facilities in public parks, for example, are often shuttered. The possibility of being stranded far from home was intimidating in this era of social distancing.

I considered four 25-mile loops; my home would, of course, be a fine rest stop. But that wasn't very exciting. A friend thought I might Everest and offered to support me. That was flattering, but . . . no.  And so I hatched this idea to bike on 15 consecutive days, which would beat my previous personal best (9 days).

Hazardous air quality interrupted my ride series; I managed three stretches of consecutive days: 5-4-5. I had reached out to former teammates to join me for some rides, but unpredictable conditions made planning infeasible. I wanted the final stage to be significant, but not wanting to delay it indefinitely I settled for a modest route through a part of the Bay Area blessed today with a temporary respite from wildfire smoke.

On a Sunday morning, this route was particularly traffic-free. The cycling infrastructure has been improved, including a lovely bit of green bike lane at an intersection I generally avoided after being bumped by an inattentive driver. Good to know, but it will be quite some time before I might bike to the office again.

 

I'd brought some snacks to refuel, but as I puttered along I had a better idea. Sugar. Butter. Flour. Might that bakery be open? [Yes!] After all, completing my Challenge called for some celebration. A too-rich, decadent chocolate truffle cake was my lunch.

By adding a few hills, I climbed 1,225 feet over 42 miles. On my road bike, there was no excuse not to tackle the climb to the water treatment plant. I felt strong heading up the hill, why did I think this would be so hard? Then the final punishing stretch came into view. Photos never quite convey steepness, but in this view from the top notice how the road seems to disappear.

I had saved one more special treat for this day: my last Mango Tango.

And thus concludes my Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: 15 stages, 370 miles, and 13,272 feet of climbing.

September 26, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 14

This is the view I was aiming for last night: Stevens Creek Reservoir. But it was not my first choice for today's destination.

I very much wanted to bike up Mt. Hamilton. Blue skies to the west and smoky skies to the east meant a change in direction was advised.

It looks like my hair was slicked back in 2019, but that was the work of the wind. The views last year were spectacular; will we have a chance to ride down the coast together, again? I do hope so.

I wanted to push myself, today. My chief ride buddy was game for some climbing, after enjoying the cool shade of Stevens Canyon. We chatted with a friendly solo cyclist, who decided to tackle the additional climbing we planned. Riding alongside me, I was momentarily puzzled when he asked if I liked Keith Haring. Ah, I explained, he designed the Best Buddies logo (featured on the back of my jersey).

Waiting for my bike buddy before making a turn, a Tesla blinked its headlights at me, a signal (I'm guessing) that I was standing too close. [Whatever.] A passing car was driving sooooo slowly that I turned to look at the driver, wondering if he was unsure whether I might move into his lane. [Ha. No.] He wasn't looking at me. Nor was he looking at the road. His head was tilted down, his attention focused entirely on his cellphone with the backs of both hands resting on the center of the steering wheel. He was texting. At least five cars were stacked up behind him, and no one honked.

Behold, sadly, my last Strawberry C Monster. [Odwalla is no more, at the whim of its corporate overlords.] After refueling, I set out again. I had a pair of climbs in mind, but ... on a full stomach? [Not usually a good idea.] The day was heating up; if I started out flat, I would bake in the sun on a long flat finish during the hottest part of the day. I decided to climb slowly, and that turned out just fine.

My most ambitious stage of this Challenge: 52 miles, 3,280 feet of climbing. Just one more stage to wrap up this series: Stage 15, for 2020.

September 25, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 13

The Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge celebrated its 15th year in 2018, and it was the only year I opted for the 60-mile route instead of 100. It was another year for the alternate route, as Highway 1 remained closed throughout the planning process. It was just too hot that day for me to complete a century on that route (at my pathetic pace), but I enjoyed the chance to explore some different roads anyway.

I had a destination in mind for tonight's stage, but had I done the math I would have realized there wouldn't be enough daylight. When I turned back, I decided to follow a different route—no overlap with my outbound route.

The local sensors were reporting clean air, but the hills were hazy and I started out coughing. I could see smoke beginning to filter in; I opted to keep the ride flat to minimize exertion (despite averaging 12.8 mph—road bike vs. commute bike).

Somehow, I managed the same elevation gain as last night: 460 feet, over 20 miles. I couldn't have pulled that off if I'd tried to plan it!

September 24, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 12

Late afternoon meetings meant a late start for tonight's stage. I also came up short on ideas for where I might ride. I decided to head toward a park I'd never visited, in a neighborhood where I could meander randomly through the streets. Most of which, as it turned out, had names starting with “Bel.” The park was more suited to hiking than biking, so I found myself racing the sunset to a suitable scenic location for my Stage 12 photo.

At bicycle speed, you notice things. Neighborhoods where the theme is women's names, or poets, or colleges. Sometimes they progress, helpfully, in alphabetical order. When a subdivision is laid out, who gets to name the streets? It can be pretty informal, as it turns out. My mom worked for a civil engineering firm for many years; one day the boss asked “What is your granddaughter's name?” And thus a new street found its name.

Road damage from winter's heavy rains had closed Highway 1 when I earned this jersey in 2017. I missed riding south along the coast, but the alternate route gave us the opportunity to explore unfamiliar territory (and, a very steep climb).

Tonight I climbed rather higher than I'd expected and was surprised to pop out partway up a hill that I know is quite steep. I was briefly tempted to turn onto the upper climb—the next block or so would have been doable (on my heavy commute bike). [But, I didn't.]

Whatever the distance, whatever the elevation gain, my evening rides seem to be consistently hovering around 90 minutes. Tonight, I climbed 460 feet over 15 miles, at a respectable 11 mph.

September 23, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 11

Wow, look at that view! We can see the hills of the Diablo Range clearly again!

An alternate title for tonight's stage would be “The Hummus Guy.” At the end of last week, I found myself in a serious food funk. After more than six months of my largely repetitive, go-to recipes, I had no idea what to eat. I was tired of it all—even, strawberries. I skipped my visit to the weekly farmers' market.

I got over it. And missed the berries. Then I remembered that my preferred strawberry vendor has a booth at a farmers' market in a nearby town on Wednesday afternoons. Bonus: it's a smaller site, likely to be less crowded; but without a basket on my bike, I couldn't stock up fully. Still, some is better than none.

As I surveyed the rest of the booths, rolling my bike alongside me, the hummus guy called out to me. “Hey, you must eat healthy, you ride your bike!” I smiled, which (of course) he couldn't see behind my bandana-shrouded face. A few minutes later, as I was eyeing some peaches (surely I could fit a bit more in my bike bag, it expands), the hummus guy appeared—holding out a container. “Here,” he insisted. “You probably eat hummus, right?” Well, yes ... “You like red peppers?” Well, yes ... “Enjoy!” [And I did, it was yummy on the sourdough I had with my latest batch of lentil soup tonight.]

A few pounds of produce didn't really slow me down, either. [Tomatoes, strawberries, peaches, hummus.] Given that I've shed a few pounds over the past few months, I supposed it evened out.

2016 was the tenth year I biked 100 miles down the coast in the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge, and my all-time favorite bike kit design. I've had random cyclists admire this kit, on the road. [It's the carbon-fiber pattern, no doubt.]

Today's route was challenging in a different way, though it was a measly 16 miles and 320 feet of climbing. It reminded me of the first trail ride I did, on a stubborn horse that just wanted to go back to the paddock; he only cooperated when we reached the half-way point—he knew the shortest way home, then, was to go forward. And so it was with this old gray mare, tonight—commuting away from home, in the evening, was a struggle.

September 22, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 10

As you've seen by now, I'm not very creative when it comes to posing for photos. At the Best Buddies finish line in San Simeon in 2015, I had some coaching.

When I mentioned last week that I was limited to after-work rides, I know what you were thinking: Morning rides. [Duh.] Sadly, I am not a Morning Person.

Most [un]fortunately, I woke up at some ridiculous hour today (like, 2:45 a.m.) and was Alert. Awake. Tried all the tricks: relax all muscles, take slow deep breaths. Nada. I pretended I was asleep until a more hospitable hour (like, 5:00 a.m.). Plenty of time for a morning ride, once we had some daylight. My first meeting wasn't till 9:30 a.m. And the air was . . . clean?!

It's Bike to Work Week in the Bay Area (re-scheduled from its traditional May date). So I decided to bike to work. But wait, you're thinking: You're still working from home. [Right you are!] I set off on my normal commute route, at the normal time. I pictured where I would make the turn to finish the trip at my current workplace. [Aka, home.]

But then I thought, why not go a bit farther? Make the turn at the 45-minute mark, have enough time for a suitable photo, and still get home in time to get cleaned up before my meeting.

Ah, but wouldn't it be fitting to bike even farther, technically into the town where my lonely desk sits in a deserted office building. After all, I could attend the meeting in my sweaty bike kit; that would make no difference to my remote colleagues. [And, truth be told, in days gone by I have attended a meeting at the office in my cycling attire. At least once.]

Ride highlight #1: A red-shouldered hawk at eye level, perched on a fence! Ride highlight #2: Posing with a cyclist on a penny farthing. [They're already setting up the holiday lights in the local park.] Lowlight: Testing my panic-stop skills when an utterly clueless cyclist cut me off.

At a brisk (for me) pace of 12.9 mph, I covered 25 miles with 680 feet of climbing (rather more than the regular tally for my morning commute). And I had just enough time to enjoy a second cup of tea and a scone before connecting with my colleagues.

September 19, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 9

Best Buddies celebrated 25 years in 2014, and I followed my west coast century in September with an east coast century in October. Given the chillier weather (and a memorable mishap), evidently I didn't get a photo featuring the jersey that day. But there I am at the start, with the Washington Monument in the background. My vest, arm warmers, and knee warmers from the September event were just what I needed in D.C.

Eager to ride—anywhere—my chief biking buddy suggested we revisit the neighborhood we explored on my first foray of the pandemic era. With more temperate weather, I expected we could make it to Almaden Reservoir this time.

My plan was to turn back at Hicks Road (not ready to climb that beast, today); but I was curious to know where Alamitos Road actually ended. I was emboldened after watching another woman continue past Hicks, and my ride buddy agreed to explore. When we caught up to her, I'm afraid I startled that woman when I asked how far the road went. “About a mile,” she assured us; a nice ride up the canyon before the pavement would give way to dirt. Although she (and a few others) plowed on ahead, we turned around at an “Authorized Personnel Only” sign.

An artist has been busy in the tiny community of New Almaden, where the posted speed limit is 25 mph. Want to bet they're having trouble with speeding drivers passing through . . . on their way to spin donuts on Hicks, perhaps? Distinctive red-white-and-black signs were everywhere.

“Let's walk onto the dam,” I suggested (having noticed that this was possible). We were surprised to find a plaque mounted there, informing us that the dam was constructed in 1935 and the reservoir holds up to 2000 acre feet of water. Most of the plaque was reserved for the names of the Board of Directors, along with the engineers and two attorneys.

We covered essentially the same distance as we did in May, but with less elevation gain (having skipped the prelude segment): 33 miles, 935 feet of climbing. We could see streaks of smoke in the distance; by the time we were done, the nearby hills were hazy and the aroma of wood smoke was creeping in. I sensed another pause was imminent for my Best Buddies 2020 Challenge.

September 18, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 8

Where should I ride tonight? That was the question. After-work neighborhood rides have proven more treacherous than I'd expected. The forecast suggests a smoky weekend. It's time for more of a workout.

There is a different sort of risk on the back roads, in the evening: deer. Three, tonight; looked like a doe with two youngsters. One scampered out of my lane and up the hillside, while the other two eyed me from the edge of the road. “Hi, sweetie,” I called out gently. “I'm not gonna bother you. Be careful!” They stood still. (I saw them again, on the way back.)

I haven't biked this route after work, alone, before. And I probably won't again. There were fewer cyclists than I'd hoped. And there were some sketchy-looking dudes hanging out, not far from one of the wider patches of road that attract circular skid marks. I kept an eye on my rear-view mirror and picked up my pace after I passed them. [Woman. Cycling. Alone.]

Today's stage celebrated my eighth century ride for Best Buddies.

I got the workout I needed (sore legs!), with an average heart rate of 140 bpm to climb 1,245 feet over 16 miles (10.9 mph). Unfortunately the air quality was deteriorating, leading to an unpleasant fit of coughing when I got home. Thus confirming my hunch, ’tis better not to cycle when the air quality is rated “moderate” (yellow).

September 17, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 7

2013 marked the 10th anniversary of the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge, and the designer had some fun with the jersey—incorporating elements from past years. The fourth event was my first, and I never would have dreamed I'd keep coming back, year after year!

Hurray for another day of clean air in September 2020! Unlike the distant fog bank in 2013, you will see smoke—not fog—in the distance today.

I may not make it to the Pacific during this series, but I've been able to visit smaller bodies of water nearby. Club rides tend to skirt one edge of Almaden Lake; I decided to see if I could bike all the way around. [Yes!]

There were a fair number of other cyclists out tonight. I found myself sort of mixing it up with a small group of young teenaged boys, led by one who was slightly older. Coaching or instructing them, or maybe just herding them. One was riding a motorized skateboard. The driver who would have failed her road test tonight set us up for a right hook. Instead of merging to the right, behind us in the bike lane, to make her turn adjacent to the curb, she passed us and then . . . stopped. [Think, people. If there is a car in the lane to your right, would you line up to the left to make a right turn?]

I stopped behind the car, since there wasn't enough room to pull around and pass her on the left. She didn't budge, which was the right call because the kids and their leader came along and passed on the right. [Unsafe. They should have stopped, as I did, and waited for her to turn.]

Trying to stay ahead of the boys, I was motivated to pick up my pace: I averaged 12.1 mph over 18 miles, with 320 feet of climbing. [Flat.]

September 16, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 6

Conditions were spectacular for my sixth Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge.

When I designed my challenge for 2020, my plan was to ride every day, without any rest days, wearing my event jerseys in order (from my first ride in 2007, to the most recent ride in 2019). My original plan was to finish the series on September 12, which is when this year's event would have taken place.

Then came the storm, and the fires, and the smoke. The air quality was low and the temperatures were high. I delayed the start of the challenge by one week.

Stage 6 was planned for September 10. Despite the previous day's long ride, I was game.

Until I stepped outside. There was a dusting of fine ash on my trash bin, and the distinctive aroma of wood smoke in the air. Just like this headline: Yesterday the air quality looked bad, today it actually is bad. I kept an eye on the local sensor readings and hoped we'd get some wind from a favorable direction. The following day, conditions worsened.

No wind. Very unhealthy air. Thus began an unexpected, multi-day pause to my Best Buddies 2020 Challenge.

If this year's event had not already been canceled, it would have been thrown into disarray: Highway 1 was closed, from Big Sur to Ragged Point, due to the Dolan fire (burning since August 18). Of course, whether I can ride my bike on any given day is truly insignificant, in context.

Blue skies at last, though we still can't see the mountains through the haze. Back to work this week, my best option is an after-work ride. I puttered around some neighborhoods, coming to an abrupt full stop when one SUV driver suddenly stopped in the lane ahead of me, cut left (making a U-turn?), then straightened out and proceeded to back into his driveway. When he glanced to his left to find me (in the bike lane) staring him down, he looked surprised ... but also like he didn't particularly give a damn.

This is the view we couldn't see a few days ago (September 8). And yes, that is a thin stream of yellow-orange smoke above the ridge. Wrapped up Stage 6 with 14 miles, 220 feet of climbing, at a conservative 10.1 mph pace.

September 9, 2020

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 5

I thought I'd join a club ride today. [More vacation time, use it or lose it.] But after a very poor night's sleep, it seemed more like a better day for a short ride. Or at least a later start.

When the sun came up, the color of the light was shifting from yellow to orange. There were reports of ash falling from the sky like snowflakes, but that wasn't happening here. The sky was tinted in various shades of tan, lighter to the south. Local air quality was ... green? This smoke was drifting higher aloft from fires raging far to the north, and it wasn't penetrating the marine layer.

The jersey from my fifth Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge is great for hot days. Today was chilly. Unsure about the UV index for overcast skies due to ash rather than water vapor, I slathered on some sunscreen.

Sunglasses, however, would not be needed today. In the dusky light, all sorts of automatic sensors flipped bulbs on: car headlights, streetlights, even lighting I'd never before seen on a majestic bike bridge.

I mapped out a route to the Bay; if I sensed the air quality deteriorating, I could shorten it or even turn back. The amusement park, of course, is closed.

I wanted to see what could be seen. [Not much, as it turned out.] I pictured myself enjoying my sandwich on a bench along the shoreline, but opted for an inland park instead. The [lack of a] view and the unnatural colors were too distressing.

Stage 5: Passed the century mark for my 2020 Challenge with today's 44 miles, 820 feet of climbing (average speed 10.5 mph). Still keepin' it slow.