NorCal AIDS Cycle 2012

Climbing “The Hill” photo by Nate Feldman

It’s been a year since NCAC 2011, and all along, I knew I would be doing it again. So… after nearly a year of training and fund-raising and planning, NorCal AIDS Cycle 2012 was about to begin!

Day 1 – Thursday, May 17 (Granite Bay to Gridley/101 miles) The night before events like this, I usually don’t sleep well, and this was no exception. Just too much adrenaline. It was to be a early start, as we had to arrive at Beals Point at Folsom Lake by 6:15 am. I just finally stopped trying to sleep, got up and made coffee and breakfast, and packed the car. JoAnn and Justine managed to get up to drive with me to the start, and when we arrived, things were really in full swing. Photos being taken… television cameras… trucks loaded with gear and food… riders nervously adjusting their shoes. Finally, all was in readiness, and we clipped into pedals and were on our way.

There’s something wonderful about the energy level at the beginning of this day. Everyone is excited and well-rested and ready to ride. The beginning of the day’s route is hilly and really gets the adrenaline going. In contrast to last year, the weather was warm, and riders were quickly shedding those jackets and arm warmers. And before we knew it, we were at the old Fruitvale Schoolhouse in Lincoln for our first rest-stop. “Have you washed your hands??” This is question one hears at nearly every rest stop. Time for a potty-stop, a few snacks, and to refill drink bottles, and we were off again. The morning finished with a cruise into the town of Marysville for our lunch stop at Faith Lutheran Church. A new caterer was supplying meals for this years ride, and our lunch promised good things to come. Maranello’s catering did the food for us, and it was outstanding and one of the best reasons to do the ride!

A rather convoluted route took us out of Marysville into rural California once again. This was the part of the route which had been changed from last year, and the scenery was a vast improvement. Some of the roads were Paris-Roubaix worthy however, with road surfaces which appeared to have been left unmaintained since they were built. Our last rest-stop was at the Mendenhall Wool Ranch, and then we headed off more back roads to Gridley, where we would camp on our first night.

Electrolytes: Your body needs them, and during intense exercise during warm weather, you burn through them. I was not being very attentive to the replenishment of my electrolytes. And I began to have some pretty significant cramping in my right thigh. Fortunately, I did have some electrolyte drink and chews with me, so I took them in pretty steadily through the afternoon.

I arrived at the Butte County Fairgrounds with some of the earlier groups, a contrast to last year when I was the last one in (due to two flat tires). A shower just always seems to bring one back to life, and then a exceptional dinner (lasagna) capped off our first day. During the evening program, we were asked how many of us had just ridden our first “century” (one-hundred miles). A number of us raised our hands. Then it was asked how many of us had ever ridden back-to-back century rides. I think two people may have raised their hands. And guess what they had planned for us on day two…

Day 2 – Friday, May 18 (103 miles/Gridley to Williams) “Uh, hello… David… this is your body speaking: what do you think you’re doing??” My body did NOT seem too happy I was back on the bike. Day two always seems the most difficult for most riders. It certainly was for me last year, and this year was proving much the same. By the time I got to the first rest stop of the morning, I managed to shake it off and find my rhythm.

The second day is “Hawaiian Day,” and many riders and crew dress up in all kinds of wacky tropical outfits, in memory of those whom we’ve lost to AIDS. The morning’s ride took us up through Oroville, and then west to Durham, where our lunch awaited. The afternoon was significantly re-routed from last year’s ride, and was infinitely more scenic, taking us through Willows, to our last rest stop at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. This was the “pie and chai” rest stop, which included buckets of icy washcloths, which draped on one’s neck, succeeded in lower our body temps on this very warm afternoon. Another twenty miles or so took us to our destination for the day, Williams High School.

The day was capped by a lovely and meaningful candlelight memorial service for those whom we’ve lost to AIDS. I was asked to say prayers, and then each of us held a candle, and were invited to say the name of someone who has died. I was very tired that evening, and sleep came quickly.

Three awesome friends.

Day 3 – Saturday, March 19 (Williams to Woodland/80 miles) Today was the day of “the big hill.” And the hill came early as we climbed up highway 20 towards Clear Lake. The hill is not really THAT steep, but it’s a steady seven mile climb, and the first part of the road is narrow without a shoulder. A number of riders were intimidated by it, so opted to get a sag-ride to the top. I found another rider who was maintaining a slow and steady pace, and together we made it to the top. And what goes up… a thrilling speedy downhill followed, as the route turned left onto highway 16, a scenic romp through the Cache Creek Valley. Our ride for the day concluded in Woodland at Pioneer High School. Energy was high as we zeroed in on our last day… only fifty miles to go!

Many riders had their families come and share a excellent dinner and our evening program. The program included a talk by a young man who had been born with HIV. And of course, the ever popular drag-queen show! And… a surprise visit from MY family which was wonderful. An uneventful night passed (well, except for the 3 am sprinkler incident), and suddenly, it was the last day.

Day 4 – Sunday, May 20 (Woodland-Winters-Davis-Sacramento/50 miles) The riders left in two groups on this sunny morning (no rain, hail, thunder today!). A early group left at 6:15, for those riders who felt like they might need a little extra time to get to Sacramento for the closing ceremony. I opted for the 7 am group, knowing it is an almost entirely flat ride, of a mere fifty miles. After brief rest stops in Winters and Davis, I jumped in with a group of riders going across the Yolo causeway. What a great sight with all of us in our NCAC Jerseys! As we rode over the Tower Bridge in Sacramento, we could see the State Capitol ahead, with a big balloon arch on the west steps, which we knew was for us. My eyes welled up with emotion as we neared the completion of our journey. We rode into Crocker Park to await the arrival of the rest of our riders… for a few snacks and lots of photos and hugs all around.

Finally the moment came… we all lined up and headed up Capitol Mall for our closing ceremony, led by the roaring engines of our moto crew. I was overcome by emotion as we rode into the Capitol. JoAnn and the girls were there, part of the large and enthusiastic crowd which had gathered for our return. The awesome U C Davis Aggie Marching Band-uh! was rocking the house as we lined up together on the west steps of the Capitol. Speeches and introductions were made, and we celebrated our 330 mile journey together.

West steps of the State Capitol, photo by Nate Feldman

Kudos: Thank you to… everyone who contributed financially to the ride. My final total for fund-raising was $5,800 with our group total exceeding $300,000. To our awesome support crew… moto riders, rest stop workers, medical staff, and everyone who watched our backs and got us home safely. To my fellow riders for your friendship, companionship, and encouragement. I love you all more than know. To my wife and family for their incredible support through all of the fund-raising, training rides, and endless chatter about NCAC. And especially to my friend Ken, in whose memory I rode.

Next year?? What do you think??

Click here for more photos from NorCal AIDS Cycle 2012

Here we go!

 

The training is finished.  Fund-raising successful.  It’s down to the wire, and NorCal AIDS Cycle is here!

Thursday morning at 7:00 am, 130 riders plus support crew will begin the four day journey from Beals Point at Folsom Lake. We’ll make a big loop through Northern California, passing through Newcastle, Marysville, Gridley, Oroville, Durham, Colusa, Williams, Capay Valley, Woodland, Winters, Davis, and finish up on Sunday at the west steps of the State Capitol.

I wish to thank all of you for joining our team with your financial support. It’s because of you this ride is such a success. I am pleased to say that individually, I raised over $5,500. And as of yesterday our group total passed $260,000 to help fund HIV/AIDS service agencies in Northern California.

I must admit, I’m a little apprehensive. 330 miles is a long way to ride, and even though I did it last year, I’m still a little nervous. But with the support of the other riders, a first-class support crew, and all of you back home, I know I can make it. And we’ve been promised excellent weather this year!

As I did last year, I am dedicating this ride to my friend Ken Piercy, who succumbed to AIDS on April 10th of last year. He was loved by many and an inspiration to me.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter, look for daily updates!

And I hope some of you can join us on the west steps of the State Capitol on Sunday at noon, for our closing ceremony. I hear a rumor that the UC Davis Marching Band-Uh! will be providing music, accompanied by Sacramento Cheer, and lots of other fun stuff.

Again, I am deeply appreciative of your generosity, and the willingness to support someone with HIV whom you will never know.

I love you all,
David

There and back again: NorCal AIDS Cycle update

NorCal AIDS Cycle is only six weeks away! March was a excellent month for fund-raising, and as of today, I am within fifty dollars of my five-thousand dollar fund-raising goal! A big boost was an organ concert I presented at Trinity Cathedral, which raised over $1500. Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed an afternoon of great music.

With the final arrival of winter weather (in March??), training was a little bit less than I’d hoped, so had to spend some time in the gym. However, I did have some good rides, including a 68km out-and-back to the Sutter County Line yesterday, and am feeling in much better shape than I did for last years ride. Fortunately, unlike last year, I have not had any bicycle crashes which is a big positive!

While I was putting together information for the organ concert program, I came across some interesting statistics in regards to HIV/AIDS… Approximately 33 million people world-wide have HIV/AIDS… Sub-Saharan Africa makes up a staggering 28 million of those people… In the United States approximately 1.1 million people are infected… There is a new infection in the United States every 9.7 minutes… 20% of those who are infected don’t know it… There are approximately five-thousand people in the Sacramento area with HIV/AIDS. Now, in the big picture, five-thousand doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. But if you are one of those, it’s a BIG deal.

NorCal AIDS Cycle raises funds for agencies in the Sacramento area providing medical treatment, counseling, transportation, food, testing, and prevention services. The 2011 edition of NCAC raised over a quarter-of-a-million dollars, and this year we have set a goal of doubling that.

To do that, we need to raise as much money as possible. A huge Thank You to all of you who have shown your support in 2012. It is deeply appreciated! If you haven’t made a contribution to NCAC 2012, won’t you do it today?? Join our team as we work to eradicate this terrible disease once and for all!

Ok… back to the bike… 330 miles is a long way to ride, and I have to get in shape.

Click here to donate to NorCal AIDS Cycle 2012!

Hills, hills, hills

One of the downsides to bicycle training in Sacramento, is that most riding here is pancake flat. Hills simply don’t exist here, and if one wants to train on hills, you have to find them elsewhere. With only ten weeks until the start of NorCal AIDS Cycle 2012, getting complete training is a priority. With that in mind, I’ve been making the effort to get out of the flatland into the hills as much as possible.

Two NCAC training rides in February helped out with that a lot. The first was a ride from Gold River up to Beals Point at Folsom Lake… the second from the cycling crazed town of Winters up into the hills between there and Vacaville. Both were great days on the bike with excellent friends and fellow NCAC riders. The Winters ride even included SAG support and a rest stop.

Every February, I travel to Healdsburg in beautiful Sonoma County to attend our Diocesan Clergy Conference at the Bishop’s Ranch. While I am not clergy, there is music for worship in the mornings and evenings, which is why I attend this each year. The best part is, that I have most of the day free for cycling. Sonoma County is a world-class cycling destination with hills aplenty, which is just what I need. On Monday of the conference I arrived early, and did a lovely 47km loop up the Dry Creek Valley. This is definitely a wine-lovers ride, with the route passing dozens of wineries and vineyards along the way.

On Tuesday morning, the weather was still looking decent, so I did a more challenging loop ride of 55km, taking in Guerneville, Armstrong Redwoods State Park, Pocket Canyon, and Forestville, before heading back to the Bishops Ranch. And hills there were, with a couple of thousand feet of cumulative climbing. And what gorgeous scenery with Redwood Forests, the Russian River, and more vineyards and wineries.  February turned out to be a GREAT month for training, and I’m feeling on-track going into March.

With only ten weeks to the ride, fund-raising weighs heavily on my mind, as it does for most participants. My donations are fairly well on track at the moment, with my current total at nearly the $2,000 level. But I still have a long way to go to reach my goal of $5,000! To help things along, I’m doing a benefit organ concert at Trinity Cathedral on Sunday, March 11th at 4:00 pm. This will be a fun afternoon of music making, and will be accessible to all listeners, including those who might think that they won’t like classical pipe organ music! I hope many of you will come and join me on Sunday afternoon. Not only will the proceeds benefit NCAC, but further opportunities to make donations to the ride will be made available!

Ok… enough talk.  Back onto the bike.  330 miles is a long way, and I have training to do!

To contribute to NorCal AIDS Cycle, click here!

Music making at the highest level

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. Originally, I was to go to the concert with my mother, but she had a fall a few weeks ago, and broke her ankle. She didn’t feel that she was up to going and dealing with the wheelchair, so I invited my oldest daughter Camden to go in her stead.

One of the musical bonuses of this concert was the legendary conductor Charles Dutoit, the artistic director of the RPO. His bio in the program states that he has done 170 recordings in his career. Staggering!

It usually takes about twenty minutes to get from our house to the Mondavi, so I allowed forty-five minutes to get there, which I figured would be plenty of time. NOT. The traffic was backed up onto I-5, and it ended up taking fifty-five minutes, so we missed the start of the concert. Waiting out in the lobby for Berlioz “Le Corsaire” to finish so we could find our seats, we could hear the music through the house speaker system, and it promised good things to come.

After the Berlioz was finished, we were quickly ushered to our excellent seats in the Grand Tier. The first thing I noticed, was the pervasive smell of Vapo-rub… not exactly conducive to an enjoyable evening. Fortunately, the vapo-rub person seemed to disappear after the intermission, much to my relief.

Up next in the program was the Piano Concerto #5 by French composer Camille Saint-Saens, sometimes referred to as the “Egyptian” concerto because it was composed during one his frequent holiday trips to Egypt, and because of the exotic harmonic and rhythmic ideas he incorporates into the piece.

The soloist for this performance was the French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and his performance was at once stunning, musical, and technically fluent. From subtle quiet expressive phrasing to fiery blazingly fast passages, Thibaudet is a true virtuoso. A truly satisfying performance in every way.

After the intermission, was Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4, one of the staples of the classical repertoire. Tchaikovsky’s “fate” theme stated at the beginning of the symphony, recurs in various treatments throughout the entire piece, bringing a very satisfying unity to the whole piece. I particularly enjoyed the gorgeous and fluid sound of the strings in this orchestra, and under Dutoit’s baton, the piece came to a thundering and exciting conclusion. The audience replied with a extended standing ovation and numerous curtain calls, which was completely deserved.

It was a very enjoyable evening of music making at the very highest level, and I was pleased to be able to experience it, and spend some time with my daughter.

Yosemite in Winter??

For several years I had a tradition of visiting Yosemite during my days off following Christmas. With the availability of a family cabin near Lassen, I that tradition went by the wayside. But this year I got the Yosemite bug, and decided that it would be a good time to go again. Usually, a December visit to Yosemite would center around winter activities… skiing, snowshoeing, etc. However, with the unseasonably dry weather we’ve experienced in California this year, it was more like spring than winter. In fact, the Tioga Road, which usually has about twenty feet of snow on it this time of year, is still open all the way up to Tioga Pass.

My daughter Abbey expressed an interest in going with me, so a couple of days after Christmas, we threw our camping gear into the Subaru, and headed for the mountains. Abbey had never seen the Hetch-Hetchy area of Yosemite before, so we decided to swing out there on the way to the valley. Alas, when we got to Hetch-Hetchy Road, the gate was locked, and a sign indicated that it was closed for that day due to maintenance (contrary to the information on the park website and entrance station signage). We were a little irritated, but drove back and continued on into the valley.

It was a sunny and beautiful day, and we got settled into our campsite at Upper Pines, and then headed over to the visitors center to figure out a hike for the next day. After conferring with a ranger about conditions on the Tioga Road, we decided we would hike the North Dome trail up to Indian Rock. After a yummy dinner of pasta and pesto, we crawled into our sleeping bags for a chilly night’s sleep.

Indian Rock

Next morning, we headed up to the Tioga Road. Normally, you wouldn’t be able to drive past Crane Flat in December. But this is no ordinary year, and the Tioga Road was open all the way to Lee Vining. Road conditions were excellent, and we easily made it to the Porcupine Creek trailhead to begin our hike. In general, trail conditions are pretty good. Occasional patches of hard snow and ice provided the odd challenge, but mostly the hiking is on dirt. there were two frozen creek crossings, but they were frozen deep enough to hold even my weight! We had a great day hiking, and after a steep climb on a lateral trail, reached Indian Rock, our destination for the day. We had a tasty picnic lunch, and relaxed a bit, before heading back to the car for a total of six miles or so of hiking.

Abbey had never been on the Tioga before, so we drove further east to check out Olmstead Point and completely frozen-over Tenaya Lake. With this super cold but dry winter, Tenaya Lake has become the most popular ice skating destination in the Easter Sierra! It was getting dark and cold, so we headed back to the valley, witnessing a stunning sunset during the drive back. We both crawled into our sleeping bags for a great night’s sleep.

Friday… and it’s time to head home from our too-short holiday. We’d been assured that the Hetch-Hetchy Road was open, so we swung out there to check it out on the way back to Sacramento. All in all, a great trip, with some awesome scenery and time spent with my daughter.

Hetch-Hetchy

Click here for full photo slideshow!

World AIDS Day

About twenty years ago, a man by the name of Ken, showed up at a choir rehearsal I was conducting, and asked to join the Cathedral Choir. He’d had experience singing in other choirs, including at St Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego. He also thought that it was important for me to know that he was HIV+. I have to admit, I was a little taken aback by this… I’d never actually met someone with it before. But his positive energy and warmth took the day, and he soon became a good friend.

Ken was the primary impetus for my decision to participate in the 2011 NorCal AIDS Cycle. His courage, grace, and positive attitude, combined with the excellent care he received, prolonged his life longer than anyone expected. Ken finally succumbed to the disease, just two weeks prior to the ride.

The truth is, that funding for AIDS services, education, and medical care is significantly less than it was ten years ago. And along with this drop in funding, the number of new infections is on the rise, especially among young gay men, and women of color. Now, more than ever, additional funding is needed to reverse the trend. Education is certainly a big key to stemming this tide of new infections, and Ken was very big on education. He help to start the Interfaith AIDS Network in Northern California, and spent countless hours educating people in faith communities about the disease.

So once again, I’ve decided to participate in the NorCAL AIDS Cycle for 2012. As a group, we raised a quarter-of-a-million dollars in 2011, and I think this coming year we can do even better. This money goes directly to service agencies right here in Northern California. Beneficiaries in 2011 included CARES. Golden Rule Services, Caring Choices, and the Sierra Foothills AIDS foundation, among others.

I invite you, on this World AIDS Day, to support NorCal AIDS Cycle for 2012. Click the link below to contribute, and together, we can fight this pandemic, and defeat it once and for all!!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO NORCAL AIDS CYCLE 2012!!

I’m kinda Fondo you, Santa Rosa

One of my favorite events of the year, is Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge Gran Fondo. It’s always a great day on the bike, riding in some beautiful country, with a lot of awesome riders, including some well-known pros including Levi, of course.

As I have in previous years, I signed up for the “Medio” route, which is about 100k distance with about 4000′ feet of climbing, including the infamous Coleman Valley Road, which connects the coast to the town of Occidental. This hill is always a challenge, but at the same exhilarating. One of those “love-hate” things.

A couple of months before the ride, I was contacted by a friend who was being ordained to the priesthood, and he asked if I would be the organist for the service. I immediately said yes, and asked the date. October 1… same day as the Fondo. At that point, I thought I would have to bag the Fondo completely. I was disappointed, but he is a good friend, and I wanted to play for the service.

After several unsuccessful attempts to sell my Fondo registration, I decided that I could still do both. The ordination was in the evening, and at the very least I could ride the “Piccolo” (32 miles) version of the Fondo, and still have time to shower and get to Davis for the service.

Those who know my recent history, know that I seem to have a penchant for winning contests. Notably, the Specialized Tarmac S-works bicycle I have dubbed “The Red Baron,” is a Saxo-Bank team bike which I won during the Amgen Tour of California in 2010. So, I continue to enter contests, and encourage my friends to do the same. A couple of weeks before the Fondo, it was announced that SRAM would be giving away a dozen “Wi-Fli” (wider/faster/lighter) gearing upgrades. All one had to do was to answer a fairly simple quiz, and those answering all correctly would be entered in a drawing. Two days before the Fondo, I got an email notifying me that I had won one of the upgrades to be installed by a SRAM technician the day before the ride during registration.

Back to my love-hate relationship with Coleman Valley Road… Being a big guy, I am not a good climber. In fact, I’m a sucky climber, and hills are a real struggle for me. A while ago, I realized that part of the problem had to do with the gearing proportions on “The Red Baron,” which are designed for a pro tour rider… some one like say… Levi Leipheimer. Not for a large 55 year old guy. The new “Wi-Fli” technology uses a wider range of gear possibilities in the back, with a extra-long derailleur cage, which is supposed to give one more options for steep climbs. Needless to say, I was anxious to try it out.

SRAM technician installing the new Wi-Fli

Friday morning I packed up my camping gear and cycling stuff, and headed over to Santa Rosa. I had a campsite reserved at Spring Lake County Park on the east side of Santa Rosa, about seven miles from Finley Center, Fondo headquarters. I got my tent set up, and then rode my bike over to register and get the new gearing installed. I found the SRAM “neutral support” vehicles out front, and handed the Baron over while I went inside and checked in for the ride. After I picked up my swag-bag, I wandered back over to the SRAM area, and watched the tech finishing my installation.

After SRAM was finished doing their thing, I waited to meet up with my friend Chris (@velopriest) who I’d corresponded with but never met. After dinner we headed over to the Russian River Brewing Company, to do some carbo-loading via their fine brews. However, we didn’t stay out too late, as it was going to be a early morning on Saturday.

When I got back to the campground, a large group of families with small/loud children had taken over one entire side of the campground, with me right in the middle. In addition, some of them had parked their vehicles in my campsite, so I couldn’t even get into it, and found myself getting highly irritated. I soon found a ranger who put things right, and I headed off to bed, for a hopeful good night’s sleep. Sleep??? Who am I kidding???

The alarm went of at 5:30 am, about ten minutes after I finally got to sleep. I stumbled out of my tent and made a pot of Peets Major Dickasons (yeah), ate some brekfast, and got dressed and ready to go. A little before 7:00 I rolled out and rode my bike to the start. The seven mile ride is actually a pretty nice warmup ride, so I got to Finley Center and lined up with 7500 of my new friends, including several pro-riders and other celebrities: Jason McCartney (Radio Shack), “Fast Freddie” Rodriguez (Exergy), Alison Tetrick-Starnes (PB & Comp twenty12), Gavin Chilcott (manager BMC cycling team), Axel Merckx (son of the legendary Eddie Merckx), Ed Wimmer (owner of Road ID), Patrick “Dr McDreamy” Dempsey, the always lovely Odessa Gunn (aka Mrs Leipheimer), and of course Levi himself.

Start time was supposed to be “8:00 am sharp,” but the start takes awhile, with a lot of standing around… then the slow shuffle… then finally at about 8:28 I was able to clip in and the clock started. It was a perfect morning at the start, cool but with some clouds looming. One of the most amazing things about this ride, is the distance some folks travel to be a part of it. For me, it’s a easy two-hour drive from Sacramento. But there were people who’d come from all over the United States, Europe, and beyond to be here for a day of riding.

As we rode through the streets of Santa Rosa headed west towards Occidental, dozens of locals lined the streets and corners and cheering us on. The local support for this ride is really something. As the route headed west, we rode through vineyards and redwood forests, with our first rest-stop at the old Gilliam Cemetery (there was something a bit odd about this, I have to say).

I knew, because of my shortened day, that the only chance I’d really have to test the new “Wi-Fli” gearing, would be the first climb on Graton Road leading into Occidental. This isn’t really that steep (only 4-5% at the most), but I was surprised at how much easier it was over last year’s ride. My only real worry was getting stuck behind someone climbing slower than me (which has never been the case before). Just at the top of the hill, course marshals had us get off of our bikes and walk partway down. Two riders had crashed on the descent, and were being tended to by emergency crews. Then a speedy coast took us into the rest stop in Occidental.

I had decided that I would have a pre-determined “turn around time,” as I didn’t want to risk being late for the event in Davis. I figured I would make it to the first rest-stop in Occidental, and maybe a little further before heading back. After the Occidental rest stop, I continued down the Bohemian Highway towards Monte Rio. I was hoping to make it there before I hit that pre-determined turn-around time, which I did. A quick pit-stop in Monte Rio, and I was heading back up the Bohemian Highway towards Occidental. I made it back to Finley Center in Santa Rosa fifteen minutes ahead of my intended time, so was pretty happy about that.

I had a really tasty Chicken Tikka Masala lunch, enjoyed a cold one from New Belgium, and walked around the Fondo Fest before heading back to the campground for a shower and drive to Davis. I made it in plenty of time, and the ordination was great. I returned to Sacramento about 9 pm, exhausted, but having had a great day.

Two quick reviews: 1) I was very happy with the new SRAM Wi-Fli gearing system. It made the hills much easier to deal with, and I’m looking forward to next year’s Fondo, to try it out on Coleman Valley Road! 2) Levi’s Gran Fondo is an awesome event… whether you do the 32 mile Piccolo route, or go for the full-monty, it’s a great day on the bike with riders of every ability. One thing that please me was to see the number of young people on the ride, some of them tackling those hills like old pros!

See complete photo album here.

Pine Creek backpack

Pine Lake

All summer long I had been craving a real High Sierra backpack trip. With things busy at work, and with the heavy snow year, I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen or not. Finally, I was able to schedule five days in mid-August, and the hike was on. A friend had recommended the Pine Creek area, which is off of highway 395 just a few miles north of Bishop. Fortunately, it’s not a super busy trailhead, and I was able to reserve a last-minute wilderness permit without any problem.

It’s my usual practice, when doing a Eastern Sierra backpack trip, to drive through Yosemite and do some day hiking and spend a night camped out above 8000′. It’s great for acclimatization, and heck, it’s Yosemite. I managed to snag a campsite at White Wolf, which is a beautiful spot between the Tioga Road and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. There’s a terrific loop hike of about eight miles which starts right at the campground. It starts out on the old Great Sierra wagon road out to Harden Lake, then drops down and runs on the rim of the GCotT, and then back up towards Lukens Lake and White Wolf. There was a large fire here last year, and most of this hike was through the burned area. But nature heals quickly, and wildflowers abounded through the entire hike. Back at the campground a yummy dinner and ice cold brew capped off a great first day.

I wanted to make sure that I made it to Bishop in time to pick up my wilderness permit the next day, but also wanted to squeeze in a little more hiking before leaving Yosemite. I decided to do a part of the Mono Pass trail, which is a great acclimatization hike since it pushes up towards 10,000′, and allowed myself three hours, which meant I wouldn’t be able to do all of the ten miles of this hike, but it was a still great walk with gorgeous scenery.

I drove down through Lee Vining Canyon, and made the requisite stop at the famous Woah Nellie Deli, a gourmet gnosh-pit cleverly disguised as a Mobil gas station. If you haven’t experienced this place, you should add it to your “must-do” list. Suffice it to say, you would never expect to find food like this at a gas station. I made good time to Bishop, picked up my wilderness permit, and then headed over to the home of my friends Wayne, Kim, and Robin to crash for the night.

The Pine Creek trail has a reputation for being hot, dry, and uncomfortable for the first few miles, so I wanted to get an early start to beat the heat. I managed to get out and on the trail by 7:30 am, so was happy about that. One of the interesting things in this area, is the Pine Creek tungsten mine/mill. During the second world war, this was the largest tungsten mining operation in the country. Now, with the coming demise of incandescent light bulbs, the place has shut down, and it appears that it is being dismantled.

Pine Creek Tungsten Mine

The hardest part of this trail is actually an old mining road. It’s very rocky and is sometimes akin to walking on ball bearings. Once in a while you get a little shade from a Sierra Juniper or two, but for the most part it’s pretty warm. In this section there are the remnants of an old abandoned brownstone mining operation. After a couple of miles, the route leaves the road and hits a real trail. The trail walks next to Pine Creek falls, which was really spectacular with the heavier than usual snow melt this year. With the late snow melt also came mosquitos, and they were out in droves.

Pine Creek

After four-and-a-half miles of hiking with 2500 vertical feet gain, one arrives at Pine Lake, a gorgeous spot surrounded by granite cliffs and peaks, fed by two spectacular waterfalls. I decided that this would be a great place to spend a couple of days, so spent an hour or so searching for a good campsite. I found an sweet site on top of a rocky bluff jutting out into the lake, and claimed it for my own. I spent the rest of the day lounging around and listening to music, and generally doing nothing. It was a perfect mountain day. I would have Pine Lake to myself for my entire time there.

I had decided to stay at Pine Lake, but thought I’d day-hike further up the Pine Creek drainage to Honeymoon Lake. I hit the trail with nothing more than a water bottle, some snacks, and a hiking pole, and went for a walk. I arrived at Upper Pine Lake, which is a bit smaller than the lower lake. I noticed as I got past 10,000′ that the mosquitoes were becoming thicker and thicker. And the fact that I had DEET all over me didn’t seem to concern them at all. But the time I got to Honeymoon Lake, they were so thick I had to stop taking photos and just keep moving! I would love to explore this area further when I have more time. It was really stunningly beautiful, and not really as crowded as many areas of the Eastern Sierra I’ve visited. I returned to spend the rest of the day being lazy and generally doing nothing.

Awesome campsite

I needed to get back to Sacramento, so had to cut my trip short by a day. I hiked back down to the trailhead in the heat of the afternoon sun, and headed back to Bishop for a shower and cold brew.

All in all, a great trip, and I’ll return to Pine Creek another time for more exploring.

Gear list, for all you gearheads out there:

Osprey Aether 60 backpack
Marmot Mesh Bivy tent
MontBell UL Super-stretch down sleeping bag
Big Agnes insulated Air Core mattress
Z-rest sit pad
Feathered Friends Geoduck down pillow
Bear Vault food storage canister
MSR Superfly stove/primus kettle
Black Diamond Alpine carbon fiber poles
Vasque Breeze LT GTX boots
Ibex merino wool t-shirt
Smartwool l/s zip-T
Mountain Hardwear hiking shorts
ArcTeryx Rampart pants
Cloudveil wind shell
MontBell UL Down Inner Jacket
Cloudveil Four Shadow beanie
Outdoor Research Helios hat
Point 6 mid-cut hiking socks
Smartwool merino-blend lightweight gloves

Click here for complete photos

NorCal AIDS Cycle 2011

After months of training and fund-raising, crashing, ice packs, and planning, the NorCal AIDS Cycle was here!

My with my bff's Julie & Jane Anne

Day 1 – Thursday, May 12 (Folsom Lake to Gridley/97 miles) I’d set my alarm for 5:00 am, as we had to gather at Beals Point for the start of the ride at 6:15 am. Truth is, I didn’t need the alarm. I’d been awake for sometime before that, so hauled myself out of bed, pulled on my cycling kit, and stumbled into the kitchen to get the coffee on. As I got everything packed into the car, JoAnn and Justine got up too, and we drove out to Beals for the start of the ride.

When we arrived, it was a beehive of activity. Trucks being loaded… cyclists nervously chatting away and trying to stay warm… photos being taken… and television crews taking it all in. Though I had met a few of the people before, most were new to me, but would become friends as the days went on.

Finally at 7 am, we clipped into our pedals and were off. Starting with a chilly and hilly ride through Granite Bay, we made our way to the first rest stop at the old Fruitvale Schoolhouse in Lincoln. 22 miles down, 308 to go! We continued north past the Camp Far West reservoir, skirted the southern end of Beale AFB, and on through to Marysville for our lunch stop. I haven’t been to Marysville in quite a few years, and it has become a very weary looking town. After lunch we continued to travel north towards the towns of Live Oak and Gridley. That was where the first flat tire happened. I had a spare tube in my seat bag, and a couple of other riders stopped to keep me company as I changed the tire. I was a little concerned about the spare though… it already had a patch on it, and its adhesion looked a little dubious, but it seemed to hold air, so I continued on.

We stopped at the Live Oak Community center for our final rest stop of the day… hydrating with cold drinks, and taking in precious carbs for the last 18 miles of the day. When I came out to my bike, I noticed that the rear tire was flat, and it was obvious that patch wasn’t holding. A SAG driver called for the bike tech to come and bring me a new tube, which he did, but it was about a 45 minute wait. Whit changed the tire in a flash, and I was off, the last rider on the road.

I tore it up for that last segment, “time-trialing” the last 18 miles in a little over an hour. I was leapfrogged all the way back by one of our SAG vehicles (big thanks to Michael and Luis for watching out for me), and arrived at the Butte County Fairgrounds to thunderous cheers. I was told that I got the “caboose” award for the day. In the Tour de France, they call it the “Lantern Rouge,” the red jersey given to the last rider who perseveres to the end, knowing he’s in last place.

A (cold) shower and tasty dinner awaited… and sleep came quickly.

Sierracanon and The Red Baron

Day 2 – Friday the 13th (Gridley to Colusa/93 miles) With a 7:00 am start time each day, there was no sleeping in. My alarm went off at 5:30, and I got up and dressed, had coffee/breakfast, and finished packing. From Gridley we headed further north towards our first rest stop in Oroville. Early in the ride, a female rider pulled up behind me… “I don’t know who you are ahead of me, but you have the most beautiful calves….” It was the highlight of my day. Today was also Hawaiian Day… people were dressed up in all kinds of whacky outfits in remembrance of those we’ve lost to AIDS.

I had a minor fall, trying to clip into my pedals on a hill leaving Oroville, and twisted my back in the process. It bothered me a bit during the rest of the day (but came back with a vengeance after the ride was over).

The rest of the morning was great, scenic riding (the Sutter Buttes were close by throughout the day) as we headed north then east to our lunch stop at the Durham Community Park. I have to say… the meals on this trip were really excellent, and the salads we had for lunches were outstanding. After lunch, the route switched southwards as we made our way to Colusa. This was the most difficult part of the ride, as there was a stiff headwind coming from the south throughout the afternoon. The roads were pancake flat and arrow straight, and there was little relief from the relentless headwinds. The big toe on my left foot was having a lot of pain, and I realized that I had been unconsciously clenching my toes in an effort to fight the wind. That toe pain would continue to bother me the rest of the afternoon.

At this point I started thinking “what the heck am I doing out here??” All the self-doubt started to creep in. I was thinking “I’m not having a good time right now… I could just wave down a SAG vehicle and get a lift the rest of the way” (several riders had already done that). Then another little voice started whispering in my ear… “Go, Dewi, Go.” Ken was urging me on, and I remembered why I was doing this.

That evening as we relaxed at Colusa High School, I thought about the challenges I had on the ride that day, and I started to see it as a (very)small scale metaphor for the struggle someone with HIV/AIDS faces every day. Some days are better than others. Some days life is beautiful, and some days it’s a struggle to just get through. But life is worth living and sometimes you have to keep pedaling through the pain and difficulty to see those beautiful moments. I crawled into my sleeping bag that night with a renewed respect for those who struggle with this disease every day.

Day 3 – Saturday, May 14 (Colusa to Woodland/88 miles) Word on the street was that day 3 was by far, the most beautiful part of the ride. But the “seven-mile hill” was talked about in hushed tones… something we had to surmount before the beautiful part started. From Colusa we rode through Williams to the first rest stop. A number of riders were opting not to do “the hill,” but taking SAG down to the junction with highway 16. But I have no common sense so continued forward.

“The hill” wasn’t particularly steep, but the first section was narrow and winding, and there was a fair amount of traffic on a Saturday morning. And of course, that lovely headwind was blowing right down the hill, which made it seem much harder than it would’ve been. Climb it, I did… but I had stop to catch my breath several times. Once at the top, a exciting/scary/speedy downhill takes one to the junction with highway 16. Riding through this section was exceedingly enjoyable. It was mostly downhill, with some rollers… gorgeous scenery… much cooler than the previous days… and the best day of riding for me.

We pulled into Pioneer High School in Woodland for our last evening. What a fabulous campus. We had another tasty dinner… and a fabulous drag-queen show for entertainment. The prediction was for rain that evening, and the forecast was not left lacking.

Day 4 – Sunday, May 15 (Woodland-Winters-Davis-Sacramento/50 miles) Though it had rained during the night, it was fairly dry when we got up in the morning. Our real hope was that the weather would hold until our ride finished at the state capitol. Little did we know.,,

Since we were on a schedule for our finish at the Capitol at noon, the first group of us got an early start. As we headed towards Winters, a large rainbow appeared on the horizon. Ken was saying hello and urging me on to the finish. The weather was damp but not bad for our first rest stop with a little coffee from Steady Eddies in Winters. It rained a bit between Winters and Davis, then the fun began…

Riders on the storm

Literally as I pulled out of the Davis rest stop, the hail started falling. By the time our little group got to Mace Boulevard, the hail/lightning/thunder had reached biblical proportions. As I approached the Yolo Causeway, I was soaked through and cold, visibility was almost nil, and I couldn’t see the pavement. When a SAG vehicle pulled up next to me and offered a ride, I eagerly accepted.

The gracious folks at the Crocker Art Museum gave us a warm, dry room to gather and have some coffee and food, before we began the last stage of our ride. The weather started to clear as we lined up for our procession to the State Capitol, our moto crew leading the way. This was the most emotional part for me as we approached the Capitol building together, we lined up on the steps, and the sun came out. We’d done it together as a team, and raised a lot of money in the process.

Closing ceremony at the State Capitol

Thank yous: I have many many people to thank. First of all, to all of the people who supported me financially in this endeavor. As of this date I raised $4440, and all of the riders and crew raised a record total in excess of a quarter-of-a-million dollars. Thanks also to the awesome moto crew for keeping us on track… the SAG crew… medical crew… and everyone who kept an eye out for us. To my fellow riders for your companionship, encouragement, and friendship over 330 miles, which I’ll never forget. To my friends Julie and Jane Anne who talked me into doing it. And to Ken, in whose memory I rode. And especially to my wife JoAnn and my family for their loving support.

Complete updated photo album here!