Day 1: veterans day

So many familiar things today. From an ungodly early rise time, to getting eady in the dark and silence for the first time in seven consecutive days, everything took a sort of familiar feeling. At only a few minutes past 5 i was up and heading to the cow palace, such an unglamorous place for such a extraordinary event. In the dark and cold Matt and I said our goodbyes to David who hd agreed to drive us, delivered our gear and rolled in for opening ceremonies. It felt remarkably familiar, many friendly faces and many lines and remarks heard the yea before, and yet my feelings were very different than the year past. But those exact feelings i could recognize them in the eyes of the many hundreds of people who were doing this ride for the first time. I ride with a very different spirit this year: i know what to expect and how to make best use of my time and effort, i understand the real reasons for doing this ride much better. Now my life is much more touched by hiv than it was ever before. I have several positive friends and while i cannot claim to understand their struggle i recognize the positive effect that my sincere affection has on them. I am thankful to this ride for letting me see this and look forward to helping to make it as successful as it can be.

Now to ride itself. A cold ride, 90 miles, although more like 95 judging from everyone's bikecomputers. Half moon bay was still under heavy construction so the route took us on a different, tougher course. About 6000 feet of climbing, rising to 2100 feet of elevtion at the top of skyline drive. The weather gods were partially with us though since - despite how nasty, cold and foggy that part of skyline drive can be, the climb turned out to be warm and sunny, with gorgeous sights and scenery.

A few spots here and there were a little too cold, and thank god for my new insanely warm lobster-claw mitten biking gloves, but all in all the day was a good day and we arrived in camp tired, but happy. I'll say something tomorrow about life in camp, but it was good to see again so many familiar faces. It's going to be an awesome ride!

Tomorrow is the longest day, with 110 miles of riding through the countrysides all the way to king city. And on the way, artichokes, glorious tail winds, and river swimming....

Time for bed.