Today was a WAR with the Old Kranks. It was a tough one. I didn’t sleep well the night before and it really made an impact on my riding. I actually took 2 melatonin the night before to help me sleep and they hadn’t worn off yet. To make it even more difficult, it was cold and foggy and as if that wasn’t bad enough, there was a strong headwind. I had a long road ahead of me along Emma Wood Bike Path and then we continued along the coast. It was a tough ride for a number of reasons. My glasses got foggy and I had to wear them lower on my nose, just so I could see where I was going and then my nose was runny. The headwind really took its toll on me too, but I kept pedaling, as they say. Then we got to the fire station. By then we had ridden 18.6 miles. We rode along Rincon Beach and I knew what was ahead of me – Bates Road. That is always a tough one, but I am getting better and better making the climb. Once you make the turn for Bates, the road gets really quiet and my breathing gets really loud. We took SR 150, a right on Via Real, a left on Bailard, crossed the 101, a right on Carpinteria Ave and then we made a stop at Starbucks. On the way back we stopped at Viola Fields and then continued on Carpintaria. We entered the 101 and exited Bates Road and then back traced our steps, from the fire station to Emma Wood Bike Path and then we found our way to Harbor Blvd. We had lunch at Hollywood Beach Café. I had lunch with Elsa and Tim.
This was a tough one for me for a number of reasons. I learned not to take melatonin before a ride. I will just have to wait to fall asleep. The headwinds make a difference. And I know to always have a wind breaker in the car for when it is chilly by the beach or anywhere else for that matter.
Once we got back to our cars, Earl told me that he wants me to get in some climbing. Maybe I will do Mureau Drive sometime. I haven’t done it in a while.
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