Bodega Run 2025. Enough time has passed to recover and any type II moments now be considered fun
This was a highlight. After riding an extended segment of washboard 120 miles into our third day, we turned onto a short, steep climb and descent into another valley with a vanishing point horizon straight from a motion picture - not pictured as my several years old point&shoot is sadly on its way out and giving a persistent memory card error. but more soon.
Bodega Run Day03. Coalinga to Arroyo Grande. Having resolved to recover, I piled into the sag Rivian (now with a few others) and enjoyed a day supporting those who would be riding the full route. Although I would have preferred to be on the bike, it was much easier to hang with the big dogs on the climbs with a few horsepower under foot. and a worthwhile day off to make it back for the queen stage ahead
Bodega Run Day02. Salinas to Coalinga. Although my ride ended somewhere outside of Pinnacles National Park
The decision to climb off the bike is never an easy one. Even here, trading saddle for a rather plush heated leather seat. There was no forfeiture of race or difficult conversation with the DS. There is however a stubbornness in endurance athletes that makes us want to finish what we have started, and a sense of pride lost in admission of defeat. There is also a recognition of pain from a hard effort vs one from injury.. I thought to myself as I soft-pedaled 7mph in the little ring on flat ground as the group effortlessly faded into the distance and I approached reassuring taillights
Bodega Run Day01 🤘 SF to Salinas. Nature’s attempted reclamation of the Big Sur coastline has meant an indefinite hiatus for the annual three-day Coast Ride to Santa Barbara. This year @awaymessage.cc and friends opted for a slightly longer and more adventurous route through California’s interior landscape, largely thanks to the planning of @matthewwiebe . Friday morning we rode a familiar route to Santa Cruz before turning inland through Elkhorn Slough. @mctubbbin and @dillholl offered the long final pull along flat farm roads into town as I quietly noticed a tight psoas had compromised pedal stroke and an acute pain developing in my knee
I needed glasses long before I started wearing them. Fortunately my parents instilled an early belief in the importance of nature and viewpoints, however anything beyond a few feet blurred to mere watercolor. I may have mistaken ‘do you need to get your eyes checked?’ as an insult and just insisted I could see whatever they were pointing out. Perhaps this has led to a more sincere appreciation for the details today. Coming back was like seeing this valley for the first time. and what a crew to experience it with 🙏
We rolled the dice yesterday. After a military officer informed us we wouldn’t be able to make it through to the highway, we forged on past Nacimiento-Fergusson's road closure. Expecting a quick exploratory mission, we departed without adequate food, lights, or water. Soon after starting the climb, we decided it was too good not to continue, and devised a plan to have the guys drive the 3+ hour detour around and keep an eye out for us heading north on highway 1. Without cell service or knowledge of whether the road was even passable, we pooled what supplies we could from @nutter and @trystan.cobbett . We parted ways and told them we’d meet them on the other side, and continued into the unknown.
We were rewarded beyond anything we could have imagined. Riding into the dark, we arrived at what had been a loosely planned pickup point within minutes of the van’s arrival, perfectly timed with cold beer and dry clothes.
#ridetodayornot
