Tom Nelson – ALC 2024 Blog

(Cateye and I are still in mediation talks…….Oat 9 hr 30 min (8:10 am – 5:40 pm, includes mtg and lunch at Stacky’s with Carla and Ashe, picking up AARP Bob Dylan at the condo, and rest stop at the Coral Casino)

Rode from (H)> Santa Barbara Mission Meet Up with Jill and Kathy, up Gibraltar, across Camino Cielo, down Painted Cave/San Marcos Rd> Turnpike>Hollister> Modoc> by the Biltmore> met up Carla and Ashe for lunch> to Ashe’s Carpinteria> up Linden> back Hwy 192, via Coral Casino and Bath St to (H).

The news: Rusty’s Piazza has a SB County yellow notice sign announcing taking over Stacky’s Seaside in Summerland. You have no idea how traumatic this is for this Caesar Wrap lover.

Dis 39.1 miles, Av 10.2 mph, Mx 35.3 mph, Tm 3 hr 48 min, Oat 8 hr 20 min (7:38am – 4:00pm. Includes Meet Up at Mission fountain, six rest and/or eat stops on the Gibby Loop, three flat tire repair stops, one new tire stop, lunch stop at Cody’s).

I rode from home> at SB Mission Met Up with Spenser G., Jill M., and Kathy V.> rode up Gibraltar> westward on Camino Cielo> down Painted Cave> out Cathedral Oaks to Fairview. Thank you God, for waiting until we were down off the mountain for Spenser’s flat #1. (He was strong paced on the tough Gibby Loop. His first cycling loop and he kept up and lead part way with no complaints.) Spenser’s flat #2 getting out of the Goleta (Hollister Ave) VeloPro bicycle shop. His flat #3 at Sandspit Road near the Airport. Back at VeloPro he bought a new tire & tube. Hunger lead us to Cody’s Restaurant for lunch. Then on home, with sound tires and no more flats.

Kathy & Tom near La Cumbre Peak

Red blossoms of Indian Paint Brush near La Cumbre Peak and Flores Flats (white California Clematis vine, not shown, was in full bloom above Flores Flats)

The Amazing maiden Gibby Loop rider: Spenser, back at VeloPro and a new tire solution to three flats within 30 minutes)

Lunch at Pepperdine’s Malibu Bluffs. Camp at Tom’s own bed (clean sheets, shower, real mattress, alarm clock turned off) !

Total miles traveled: 532.3 (100.0% of total route). Miles to go: 0.0 (0.0% of total route).

Tom’s Actual: Dis 62.6 miles, Av 13.9 mph, Mx 34.7 mph, Tm 4 hr 29 min, Oat 7 hr 0 min, Lv camp 6 at 7:10am, Arv Vets Center at 2:10pm.

Morning at bike parking: Chicken Lady laid an egg on each of the 2,300 bike saddles.

At Mandalay Bay Starbucks, Oxnard cyclists unofficially rest stop.

Another year’s ride hatched good will.

Congratulations you have competed ALCLifeCycle 2014 !

.Ashe met me, we watched Closing Ceremonies and ate Pulled Pig at the Belly Up food wagon.

Home Sweet Home, and 7 days laundry drying.

Not much wind to day. Lunch at the small town of Bradley, BBQ. Camp at Paso Robles Fairgrounds.

Total miles traveled: 258.4 (49.% of total route). Miles to go: 283.9 (51% of total route)

Tom’s Actual: Dis 65.6 miles, Av 13.6 mph, Mx 32.2 mph, Tm 4 hr 47 min, Oat 6 hr 0 min, Lv camp 2 at 6:40am, Arv camp 3 at 12:40pm.
Day 2 was 11 hours camp to camp . 9 pm bed showered and fed. Exhausted.
Day 3 was 6 hours camp to camp.

Kids letters greeted us coming into Camp 3 at Paso Robles.

The tiny town of Bradley, the school bus says ‘Bradley Welcomes ALC 2014’…then the kids sell hamburgers and buttons as a school annual fundraiser.

Burgers at Bradley

Charging iPhone after setting up tent at camp 3 Paso Robles. Next year use Tom’s secret outlet.

Training Ride Leaders group photo at 6:45pm