MDR 2012 - San Jose to Santa Barbara Ride - Success!

The 2012 Memorial Day Ride is now in the history books and was great fun!  Fifty-five of us rode from San Jose to Santa Barbara (370 miles) in 4 days.  We rode south from Thursday through Sunday and drove home today (Monday, Memorial Day).  It was a cool ride - mostly high 50s and low 60s, with lots of wind on the coast.  But luckily, much of it was at our backs!  We only had one day of fog, but it was our short day - Saturday - into San Luis Obispo.  Here are some of the pics I wanted to share, but many people took many pics and there will be more to share.  I've also posted the "Strava" links for all the legs.  Thanks for reading!

Mike at Big Sur 

Mike and John

Gang climbing road parallel to Laureles Grade near Carmel

Mike at Big Sur......again!

Rolling into San Simeon with a 30 knot tailwind!  Sweet....

Rolling up Turri Road near San Luis Obispo

Group heading out of Guadalupe on Hwy 1 South.

Jeff and Mike at top of Harris Grade

Rolling down Hwy 1 before Gaviota Pass

Mike and John after pedaling the final mile

Mike with "helmet hair" - that's what a strong wind does!

More pics:
https://picasaweb.google.com/spankyvelo/2012MDRPics


And the routes....

Day 1 - San Jose to Carmel
http://app.strava.com/runs/162kilometers-9268784?ref=1MT1yaWRlX3NoYXJlOzI9ZW1haWw7ND03NzE3MA%253D%253D

Day 2 - Carmel to San Simeon
http://app.strava.com/runs/149kilometers-9339426?ref=1MT1yaWRlX3NoYXJlOzI9ZW1haWw7ND03NzE3MA%253D%253D

Day 3 - San Simeon to San Luis Obispo (with extra climb!)
http://app.strava.com/runs/96kilometers-9427849?ref=1MT1yaWRlX3NoYXJlOzI9ZW1haWw7ND03NzE3MA%253D%253D

Day 4 - San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara
http://app.strava.com/runs/174kilometers-9496386?ref=1MT1yaWRlX3NoYXJlOzI9ZW1haWw7ND03NzE3MA%253D%253D

Tour of California comes to town!!!

(May 14-15, 2012)

We were lucky enough to have a few stages of the 2012 Tour of California roll nearby recently and I went to see two of them with friends.  Lots of waiting, but worth it!  Here are a few pics I took and links to more from these two stages (2 and 3).  Bravo!!

Stage 2 - San Francisco to Aptos
https://picasaweb.google.com/spankyvelo/Stage2ATOC2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrsm8auyvP7vwE

Stage 3 - San Jose to Livermore
https://picasaweb.google.com/spankyvelo/Stage3ATOC2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCLT_gInchczmPA&feat=email

Brian and Mike at Mt. Diablo KOM - Stage 3

Bikes ready to race - Stage 2 in SF

Winner and Race Leader Peter Sagan with kiss marks after Stage 3

#1 World Rider Tom Boonen after Stage 3

Freddie and Tom listening to national anthem - Stage 2, SF

Berkeley's Ben Jacques-Maynes at start of Stage 2 - SF

2012 California Junior's (CJs) Crew Race - Lake Natoma, CA  (May 5-6)

We spent the weekend watching the final crew race of the year (and high school for Brendan!).  The competition is VERY stiff and Berkeley High didn't advance to any finals for any of their 20 races.  Oh well...maybe next year.  But it is always fun to watch the kids row!  Here are a few pics.

Start Line (up to 7 lanes)

Brendan walking his "double" to the water for his race

Wesley and Brendan

Wesley and Brendan heading to the start

Brendan post race (came in 5 out of 7, but somewhat pleased)

Kids get hungry after rowing!

Finish Line flag

Berkeley's easily spotted oars

In Oklahoma City for a meeting this week....

....where it's all squeaky clean!

Saturday (4-28) was a busy day!  I rode from Berkeley to Davis with a group of 12 folks.  100 miles and beautiful weather (sunny and 55 degrees at the start and 85 at the end).  And then, we went to the French school auction dinner at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley.  I slept well that night.....

Here are some pics that I took during the ride and posted......

https://picasaweb.google.com/spankyvelo/BerkDavisRide42812?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvEm-_4wob_Gw&feat=email

And here's a link from Matt with the route map from his Garmin.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/173171626#.T5374R3KEZs.email

Alhambra Valley Road

Mike (alumni dad) and Steve (current dad) at Ecole Bilingue auction dinner

Brendan's Crew Race - 2nd place in the Men's Doubles at the "510 Sprints"!  (Sunday, April 22, 2012)

Loading the boat....

Before the race....

All done and.....

....a second place!!

I went for a ride with Stirling Sr. and Jeff yesterday (the day before today's memorial service) and it really helped Stirling a lot by taking his mind off the obvious for a short time.  We went to Harkness....a beautiful place from "the past".

The "Boys" at Harkness

It was a long trip for such a short time, but totally worth it to be there for Stirling and Karen.  It wasa beautiful day for a remembering Stirling Jr's life.  My heart goes out to the whole family.

The memorial service at Conn College