25th Annual MDR

The MDR...the 4 day Memorial Day Ride from San Jose to Santa Barbara.  I did it!  Again!  Well, most of it.  It's a fabulous annual ride and now that it's complete, that 25 years worth in the books.  (A mere 15 for me......I started in '98, but missed a couple along the way.)

The 25th MDR gang at the start

How was it??  Well.....the damn foot did act up.  I can't believe it's still not healed, 4 weeks since the minor surgery.  But I have to look at the bright side.  I plugged along for much of the ride, doing 289 out of the total of 350 miles.  Admirable, but I was hoping for the whole thing!  Instead, I did my duty of driving a 25 leg out of Carmel.  But that wasn't my only down time.  It warmed up on day 4 and I had some pain during the 3rd leg, so I packed it in at mile 68.  Too bad....I didn't even get to descend down to Gaviota Pass!  It really did hurt.  And as much as I wanted to continue, when I saw one of our cars stop for someone else, I hopped in too.  A little bit like sticking up your hand for the Team car in a race.  The ego hurt, but the foot hurt more.  I know.....I should have had it checked before the trip.  But you know how it is!  If you have something like this trip planned, you don't want to ask someone who might tell you to sit the whole thing out.  No f*ckin' way!  I will get it checked again, but really wanted to go on this ride too. 

In any case, it was a lot of fun!  Riding great roads, eating good food, drinking tasty beers, being with fun friends.  And repeating 4 times!  Here are some more fave pics so far.  If I see anymore, I'll post them too.

Bixby Bridge, 13 miles south of Carmel

At the "Quad C" - the Central Coast Coasting Competition on Turri Rd.

Mike on Big Sur

Mike and Jeff nearing SLO

Mike on Hwy 1 south of Carmel

Mike bike on Turri Rd.

The beginning of the Gaviota Pass drop to Hwy 101 (2 miles @ 7%)

Tour de France!  (Cheese store in SLO)

MDR group south of Carmel

Bixby Bridge

South of Lucia on Hwy 1 through new avalanche protection tunnel