Simple Hobby Homesteading

12:30am… that’s half past midnight for clarification. I am blissfully sound asleep when the skies seemingly open up and let forth a massive force of rain. Like a tidal wave hitting our tent… receding… and then coming back to hit us again. It’s perfectly rhythmic and we slowly realize it’s not a natural downpour at all but rather the football field sprinkler system greeting us in the depths of night. Kevin and I both snuggle down further, dry as can be in our little tent. We can’t get back to sleep while the sprinklers pelt the tent but soon it is over and we drift off, chuckling and hoping no one got wet. We hear a couple loud bangs and oddly enough think nothing of them.

3:30am… Wonderful, I must be on California time now because I do not wake up on my own. However, I am awake, wide awake. Oh yes, another round of sprinkler fun. It’s chilly out so I snuggle even further down into my sleeping bag hoping against all hope I can get back to sleep when this round stops. Kevin and I both chuckle and wonder how this sprinkler detail was overlooked by the staff.

We later find out the detail was not overlooked, the sprinkler system was shut off but some pranksters (most likely the football team) turned it back on and threw some fireworks in for good measure. Those teenagers! Kevin admits he would have done the same thing at that age and I stare at him in disbelief… Who… is… this… rebel… that… I … married? The shock! lol

Everyone seems to be in decent spirits even though a bunch got SOAKED. Tents unzipped, no rain flys on (it’s California, rain doesn’t exist), and bags sitting outside. A hot breakfast with made to order omelets makes things ALL BETTER. This is when I first realize that I had better get to loving potatoes as they seemed to be a constant at every meal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a midwest meat and mashed potatoes kind of girl so I was excited to see potatoes on the menu but how would I feel at the end of this seven day potato fest? My wnderful husband explains that they are a great food for cyclists because they give you energy that sticks around through the day rather than short bursts (ooh, that’s what we had our energy jelly beans for, right?!?!). Spinach, zuchini, and black olive omelet, potatoes, and cereal for me, YUM!

Today it is Santa Cruz to Monterey. Approximately 48 miles… maybe more if we take any sight seeing detours. I want to see seals, whales, dolphins, horses and any other animal that may help with the critter sized hole in my heart from leaving our hobby farm.

We pack up and head out at about 7:30am. Am I excited? YOU BETCHA! As we ride the back streets of Santa Cruz Kevin gives me yet another lesson on the easiest and safest way for me to clip out of pedals as we have numerous stop lights, stop signs, etc. to navigate ahead. I just don’t get it as usual and am slightly awkward (but do not fall over) at every stop.

The route is marked perfectly and we ride happily with a few other riders. We climb a couple hills and that’s when I notice my gears are quite rough. Every time I try to go into my small chain ring or a lower gear I get a grinding noise. That can’t be good so I stay in my large chain ring and a rather large gear for the first 15 miles.

I thanked God that I trained in a higher gear with a lower cadence for all those Indiana miles. However, I couldn’t keep this up for long. The hills were getting steeper and it was sometimes difficult to get going quick enough to avoid being run over after a stop light. At the bottom of a rather long and large hill a support van happened to be pulled over helping another rider. Brian (knows his way around bikes awesome but doesn’t call himself a mechanic? curious or maybe I misunderstood?) was manning that particular van on Day 2 and he had my gears fixed in about 3 minutes flat. Very nice and perfect timing!

Kevin and I head off on our merry way and have a beautiful ride. We stop for pictures of seals, each other, and more seals. The climbing isn’t bad but Kevin has an issue on his lower thigh from the day before that plagues him. It’s sore and this day was not a comfortable ride for him. Me? Oh I’m floating on a cloud and the miles flew by quicker than I ever would have wanted them to. Honestly, it felt like a 10 mile ride to me.

Coming in to the rest stops and check points as a rider is exhilarating. I fall in love with honey and peanut butter sandwiches, pineapple juice, and pickles! Yes, pickles. I kinda feel like a pregnant woman with this combo and never before would I have thought pickles were a cycling food but they are. The sodium, minerals, vitamins, and who knows what else in these foods help ward off cramps, muscle soreness and give lasting energy. Sure, why not 🙂

We get to Monterey and comtemplate hanging out down at the pier for a while before heading up a ginormous hill to camp. However, Kevin wants to shower and relax so we head up to camp. OK, so our “Daily Route Guide” (DRG) says the following…

Right. Scott Street. Climb to camp begins.

Left. Van Buren Street

Right. Jefferson Street

Continue straight. Veterans Drive. Climb steepens! (yes, they had the exclamation point in there)

Continue Straight. Enter Veterans Memorial Park.

So, we start climbing. I’m in my lowest, easiest gear. I don’t think I have ever been in this gear before. I start to climb… and climb… and climb. I thank God for my legs with which to pedal, my heart with which to pump, and my lungs with which to give me air. This helps. I eat some energy jelly beans. Not sure if that helped.

We keep thinking the next street will be Veterans Dr where the climb will steepen and we’ll almost be done. Nope, just more climbing but no Veterans Dr.

FINALLY, we make it to Veterans Dr. and I think this is when I first realize that Indiana has no hills… no switchbacks, no pain envoking, never ending streets of climbing. Guess what, California does, and they are everywhere! I have to admit I thought it was kinda cruel that the staff chose a climb into camp… we just wanted a shower and some potatoes, why are they making us work so hard to get these seemingly basic wants?

We finally reach Veterans Dr. and wow did that climb steepen. Ugh. Through the pines and switchbacks galore. I would tell myself the camp was just around the next switchback but it wasn’t. The next? Nope. Why did my husband talk me into this? This was hard… the excitement was fading as I thought I might roll backwards still clipped into these death contraption pedals.

This is horrible, but I was glad to see others were having troubles as well. Sure, there were folks that steadily climbed up with what seemed like very little effort but I told myself they were most assuredly doping. I don’t mean to offend anyone if any of the other riders read this… I wasn’t thinking clearly at this point, I cannot be held accountable.

We climbed and climbd and climbed and then guess what, we made it! Woohoo, back to excited Jhenna! My “Thank You God for the ability to do this” got me through after my “Just keep pedaling” mantra left me feeling defeated.

I was feeling great. My legs were strong, my hands and arms were ready for more, and my bottom actually wasn’t sore at all, I’m shocked! I though back to six months ago… my first ride when we had gone two miles and I was begging Kevin to turn around and head home because it hurt so horribly to sit on that evil seat. I had come a long way… we had come a long way and it was pure sweetness to be riding with my husband.

Tent set up, sleeping bags rolled out, showers taken, and off to get some food. Tonight, I am introduced to tofu. Kevin piles his plate with rice, corn, salad, cornbread and ribs. In place of ribs on my plate is tofu. We live in Indiana… don’t see tofu on menus in southern Indiana. I grew up in Wisconsin… tofu is not beer or cheese.

I have no choice, I need protein and I’m allergic to mammal meat (go ahead, work it out in your mind… beef no, mammal. Pork no, mammal. Chicken yes, not a mammal. Fish yes, not a mammal. Turkey yes, not a mammal.) They slathered the tofu with barbecue sauce and grilled it. Truth be told, it wasn’t bad at all. I ate two big pieces and the texture is the only thing that even alluded to the fact that it was not real meat. Well done catering crew, well done! However, I totally coveted Kevin’s ribs which probably weirded him out a bit and made him feel guilty, sorry honey. We chatted with and got to know some great folks from all over the nation while we ate.

There were some give aways and we met the night’s honoree, Kayleigh Springer. She was diagnosed with polyarthritis at 15 months of age and has attended Juvenile Arthritis Camp and Juvenile Arthritis Conference. I really appreciated the Arthritis Foundation having these daily honorees as it allowed us to see how arthritis really affects all ages and life.

When we signed up for this ride I envisioned everyone sitting around chatting and getting to know each other after dinner and there were quite a few who did this. However, as far as Kevin and I were concerned we were tired beyond measure and couldn’t wait to crawl into those sleeping bags.

We called the boys to say good night and let them know how the ride went, all about pickle, pineapple juice, and peanut butter sandwich eating, and my first experience with yummy tasting tofu. They were happy for us but wondered why we were eating like a pregnant woman… it’s amazing how much we think alike! Our oldest son (15) was excited because he was heading out on Saturday with his cousin and some guys to do an air soft gun tournament. Is this safe? “Don’t shoot your eye out” was the only advice I could offer my son.

We snuggle down into our sleeping bags (on a slight downhill slope) and fall asleep so very fast. The entire night I slide down and crawl back up only to slide back down again. It’s all good, I get to ride again tomorrow! However, why, just why the climb into camp? lol