August 28, 2017

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 5 DAYS

And we are off!!

GREETINGS from my couch. How very exciting!! LOL

The temps are forecasted to hit triple digits today and I am sooooo not looking forward to it!

But let's forget about that for a minute and let me to take you back to yesterday and the adventures of pedaling in the 10th Annual Bike the Bay cycling event.

After a semi- awful nights sleep it was finally time to wake up, get ready and head to the starting line.

We stayed at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel and were so close to the start line that we could see it out of our window. We kept our bikes in our room and when the time came, we made our way down and out to pick up up race packets.

In the hotel lobby (c)travelincousins.com

Leaving the hotel (c)travelincousins.com

Arriving on site after a short ride from our hotel, we grabbed our numbers and had overheard that they would soon be out of numbers... This was something that we had never experienced in the past, and there were slews of more participants still expected to arrive. Talk about being unorganized!! 

I'm ready to GO! (c)travelincousins.com

Then it was time to get in line and wait for the horn to blow!

Ready to go! (c)travelincousins.com

The line in front of us (c)travelincousins.com

We were reminded to have fun and that this wasn't a race. 

Next thing you know we were off! 

I may have only have some OJ but I was feeling strong and ready to bang out this ride.

Within a mile or so and we were already approaching the Coronado Bridge and pretty much the only climb of the entire ride!!!

Time to shift gears and pedal away. Crazy as it was, there were already a number of people who opted to hop off of their bikes and walk them up. That was definitely not going to be me.

​Once we were at the top we had of course stopped for a picture break.

Sláinte Mhath (Good Health) (c)travelincousins.com

Although there were at least 4 Rest Stops along the route - I am not much of a rester (unless I am beat). But I am definitely one to stop and take picture breaks. This next one that we stopped at was memorable because as I had stopped my bike, I forgot to put my foot down and instead I tipped or toppled over! hitting my right knee directly on the pavement. OUCH. It actually hurt pretty bad. Luckily I did not wake up previous injuries and was able to stand back up and move once again. But like I said... OUCH 

After I tipped over (c)travelincousins.com

Feeling like a fool and a little banged up, we continued on the route.

Pedalling (c)travelincousins.com

Then I just pedaled and pedaled (and listened to my tunes). All the while thinking that Dave was right behind me. When I approached my next picture break is when I realized that Mr. Ponypants was in fact not right behind me...

I was quite happy with myself, keeping a good pace throughout the ride. But I guess Dave had BONKED and was in need of some refueling. 

Pure energy from Muir Energy (c)travelincousins.com

Once he had caught up, we both whipped out a couple of energy gels and then snapped away...

Fun with pictures (c)travelincousins.com

Fun with pictures (c)travelincousins.com

We were on the last leg of our ride and the sun had begun to peer it's nasty hot head from behind the clouds. For the last 5-6 miles, my speed had definitely dropped by a good 5mph. The sun was zapping my energy. UGH 

But yet again Dave was no where to be seen.

Since I wanted us to finish the race together, I waited for him on top of the last overpass with my camera in hand, ready for us to pedal to the end together.

Here comes Dave (c)travelincousins.com

Have you know that I am usually much slower than Dave at cycling. He thinks that he needed a bigger breakfast!

We arrived back at the festival, collected our medals. Did not receive an event tee shirt - which I think is LAME!

We took a few more pictures and then headed back to the hotel for showers.

Got my medal (c)travelincousins.com

Photo op (c)travelincousins.com

Once we were cleaned up, it was time to go chow and the chosen place for our Sunday Brunch was Cafe Gratitude.

We both got medals (c)travelincousins.com

Where everything on the menu is a positive affirmation and you order by saying "I AM..."

Menus and fresh Watermelon juice at Cafe Gratitude (c)travelincousins.com

Brunch was great, Dave was no longer hungry and hopefully he had enough energy to get us on our way back home. But first... I needed one ore fix of "Kiss of Steel" from Bar Kindred!

Time to unpack, if I can stay cool enough long enough, and then pack for Vegas!!!

Gonna try not to melt,
​-T