Biker Babes!

OK, I guess that pig tails and our own bikes take us out of the "biker babe" category! But after rolling out over 500 miles together over the last 3 days, we are feeling a bit sassy!

Yesterday, we rode up the coast on old Hwy 101 to Oceanside. We had to take the interstate north to get around the PGA tournament that was going on at Torrey Pines, but after that it was beach riding most of the way. In true California weather fashion, the closer to the beach you get, the colder it is! It seemed so backwards for us to be in long sleeves and coats as we cruised up the coast yesterday and then in tank tops and sunscreen as we headed east and inland today.

Even though Bridie was a winter sport athlete, we share a love of hot weather. We were determined to rid ourselves of the chill from the beach, so we headed for the desert today. We rode twisty, winding roads up through the mountains. It's amazing how quickly Bridie became comfortable with navigating the sharp turns! We started off slow at first, but once she got the rhythm of pushing and leaning into the turns, the pace picked up. As the afternoon wore on, we dropped into the desert and the temperature soared. We rolled through Borrego Springs around 2:00 p.m when the temp hit 110 degree F! With relative humidity under 20%, the hydration stop at a local gas station proved to be just what we needed! After consuming lots of fluids and allowing enough time for both us and the bikes to cool down, we set off back into the mountains toward San Diego.

Anyone reading this blog that knows me can verify that I have a horrible sense of direction. As you can imagine, me riding lead was like the blind leading the blind! Even with the map, we stopped often at road junctions to verify we were on the right path! I'm sure I added on many miles to our road trip due to detours, but since we were just out to ride it really didn't matter! One of the things I love about hanging out with Bridie is that we just roll with the punches together. We always seem to be able to turn a detour or unexpected change in plans into a new adventure- perfectly matched travel buddies!

After riding around on 883 cc out here, she's already concerned that the 250 she left back in New York will no longer suffice! Unfortunately, the riding she did out here will have to hold her over for the rest of the summer. Her former life as a competitive speed skater has taken a toll on her body. She had to cut her vacation out here short by a day to return to New York for her fifth surgical procedure in as many years. A few bottles of wine and several hours of conversation later, she's ready to face the last of the remnants of her former life before moving on to a professional career outside of sport. It's never easy to close the door on one chapter of life and move onto the next, but with a newly earned college degree and a bit more experience under her belt she feels like she's ready.

Tomorrow I will see Bridie off at the airport and get ready for my sister Monica and her son Philip to come out here on Saturday. We'll see what adventures their visit brings!