Day Six, Lompoc to Ventura

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Today was another wonderful day. Charlie and I made it on the road by 7 am, the earliest we've done all week. We were really pushing today. The first leg was a steady, gradual 15 mile climb, and we averaged 14 mph. There was another section before lunch that was on and off the 101 where we averaged 20 mph. When we pulled into rest stop 4, we were numbers 385 and 386. We haven't been that far up in pack all week, and it's funny- we saw a whole different group of people than we've been seeing. It's hard to grasp the scale of an 1,800-person ride, and things like that give some perspective. Overall, we averaged 16.6 mph today, which is faster than any other day this week (or my training ride average of roughly 13.5 mpg).

This is not to say we denied ourselves much- there is a community bike club in Santa Barbara that hosts the Paradise Pit along the route. It is an unofficial rest stop that usually features ice cream, strawberries, and other special treats. This year they had 7 massage therapists as well. Charlie and I lucked out, arriving at a time when the place was not too crowded, so in the middle of the day, we each got a massage. Bonus!

We arrived in Ventura just before 4 pm, and after cleaning up, headed for dinner 1 at In and Out Burger across the street (a tradition for this camp which I didn't partake in last year). We had the privledge of dining with Ric Uggan (sp?) aka Ginger Broulee. Ric was a rider on various AIDS rides for many years until health issues started to inhibit his riding. In response, he began making appearances during the ride as the fabulous Ginger Broulee, and in the process has established her as an icon of this event. There are many images and experiences I have omitted in describing this week, and a daily report of Ginger sightings has been a major oversight. She typically appears either at the top of big hills, or during the climb, cheering on riders and providing support. Both as a rider and now as a roadie, Ric has raised tons of money for AIDS services organizations and inspired countless participants. My favorite image of the week is Ginger at the top of Quadbuster, in an elegant, low-cut silk number, riding an electric Razor scooter in black platform heels.

All of this is by way of saying that Charlie and I were both excited to be sitting with this celebrity, at a fine establishment like In and Out.

After announcements, etc., over dinner 2 back at camp, there was a candelight vigil on the beach. The vigil is a relatively new component (now in its third year), and they are letting it evolve organically. Basically, everyone is given a candle and a wind protector and we all process down to the beach. After that, there are no specific instructions. What followed was a peaceful, solemn period where everyone stood in a circle- and since there were nearly 2,000 people participating, it was a circle almost the size of a football field. At first there was a nervous energy, since no one knew what exactly was going on. Most stood, some sat, some planted their candle in the sand and stared at it. The silence persisted and people settled. Gradually, a pattern emerged. People walked down to the tide, and slowly each person would bend over and extinguish their candle in the ocean.

We are 63 miles away from the end in LA. I am grateful to have been a part of this unique community, and proud to have accomplished what I have. Thanks again to the dozens of people who have made contributions to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, as well as those who have sent messages of support. I greatly appreciate it. There will be more to come here, as I wrap up the ride and travel home.