Day 7 - Pacific Ocean

We made it to the Pacific Ocean.

Today was a blast!  We headed out of our camping area toward the beach... In a round about way.

It was only 34 miles.  Yes, the kids were saying JUST 34 miles today.

We stopped in Carlsbad and picked strawberries.  Yummy!!

Then we stopped at Carlsbad State Beach for some group pictures.  From there, the 5th graders lead the adults to Moonlight Beach. We were greeted by many, many cheering fans.

Then we had our moment...  We slowly made our way down to the water and put our front tires in the Pacific Ocean.  I do not have words to express the feelings of that moment.  I am humbled by my daughter.  She did the impossible!  She road her bike across California.

Just remember... It is only one more pedal.

I asked her throughout the trip, "How are you made?"
Her response, "POWERFULLY MADE!"

Moonlight Beach

Mom and Grace, Moonlight Beach

The Amazing 5th Graders!

Carlsbad Strawberry Patch

Grace's Biggest Fans!

Day 6 - San Diego Archaeological Center, Escondido

Our day started in Julian at 5:30... Not really... We hit the snooze twice.


We drove back to Wynola and breakfast. After breakfast we headed for Dudley's Bakery and bear claws. This is a long standing tradition on the ride.

The the real ride for the day started. We headed up this long steep grade. When we got to the top Grace looked back and said, "I did that? That was easy." A truly inspiring moment for me. Her confidence and determination have grown greatly this week. What appeared impossible on Tuesday is now easy. Wow!

The then headed down Black Oak Canyon. It is a wonderful ride down a dirt road. The rise was great until we saw the road turn back up. What goes down must go up. And up it went. And up. And up. Grace just put the bike in 1st gear and road. We were so happy when the road went down again and we hit pavement.

We had a nice lunch in Ramona.

Then the scariest thing I have ever seen on a bike happened. A girl in our group rubbed tires with her mom and turned into traffic. The bike was hit by a passing truck. The bike was ripped out from beneath her and she was just standing there. It was a miracle that nothing happened to her. Her water bottle was thrown 20 feet down the road. Her bike was totaled, but she will ride tomorrow! A true miracle.

We then headed through many twists and turns on our way to our camp.

The girls sang songs and played games while the parents sat and talked. It was a wonderful last night before our trek to the beach and we all go our separate ways. It is no fun when camp ends!

Mekennea and Grace

I climbed that? That was easy!

Amazing views!

I am powerfully made!
Goodbye dirt!  Hello pavement!

Day 5 - Wynola

Our day started at 2:00 a.m. when Jeanne awoke with stomach pains. She headed to the restroom where she was greeted with many others. It didn't hit Grace and me until sunrise. It was horrible! 90% of the camp got the trots. We ate breakfast in felt the gurgle within. After trips many trips to the restroom we met to discuss what we would do...

We decided to ride and do the best we could.

We left camp and headed west. We got to the first steep grade and climbed it like champs. We thought it was gorilla hill. When we met up with the truck, we told them that gorilla hill wasn't that bad... Steep but short. We were informed that that was Box Canyon and we would know when we hit Gorilla Hill.

For he first 10 miles kids and adults were found along the road and in the bushes. The word was keep drinking and eating. The kids were amazing! They just kept going.

At the 14 mile mark we had snack at the Stage Coach Store. At 18 miles we had out pictures taken at the Saddle Sore Trail street sign. We all felt at one with the road.

Then... It appeared before us... Gorilla Hill. It was a long climb. Grace did a great job. Grace thought Box Canyon was more difficult than Gorilla Hill. We renamed Box Canyon to Monkey Hill.
At top of Gorilla Hill were two kids dressed in gorilla suits. What a treat after the climb. The kids went bananas!

By this time those who couldn't make it had gotten rides to the end. There was one last obstacle for the day. Banner Grade is about a 2,500 foot climb over six miles. After lunch we headed out and got in our rhythm and just kept going. Grace sang or told stories the whole way up. THE WHOLE WAY!! She kept all the other riders going. She made the climb seem almost easy. At the top Grace said, "That was easy."

At the top of Banner Grade is Julian. We had some wonderful pie at the Julian Pie Co. After pie we checked into our hotel. Yes, we are staying in a hotel for the night.

Then we road an amazing 6 miles to Wynola and had pizza and lasagna with the group.

An amazing 35 miles!

This is hard!

They named this road correctly!

Pie!

Lindsey, CJ, Grace, Marilou

Day 4 - Vallecito Campground

Our night was very long with the wind. Our sleep was very short. We left Ocotillo at 8:00.

Grace did an excellent job of riding. We cruised today.

We were very excited and scared riding down the Sin Nombre Canyon. There one one rider that crashed pretty hard traveling down the twisty road. Grace stayed under control the whole way. The we found the truth of "Gary Miles". We were expecting to see a rest stop at mile 18 but found it at mile marker 20.

We had a nice lunch at Agua Caliente. We were ten informed that is was a mere 5 miles to our campsite. We pulled into the Vallecito Campground at 1:30. The kids had time to play and shower. The adults had time to organize and shower. It was a very pleasant evening. Dinner was once again provided by the 4H. It is amazing how much better you feel with a shower.

Tomorrow we head up to Julian. There is Banner Grade and Gorilla Hill. More about them tomorrow.

Night 3

The wind blew hard all night...

Not really...

It stopped at 5 a.m.

Note to self.
Don't camp where there is a wind farm.

Day 3 - Ocotillo

WOW! An amazing day of adversity and accomplishment.

We started our day at the lovely Pine elementary School. We had to get an extre early start because they had school this morning. As we were leaving the school buses were arriving. We headed out for our first stage of the day, about 14 miles. The kids rode fast and hard for today there would be swimming at the El Centro Naval Air Base.

You would think the road into a base would be well paved... You would be wrong! We lost the rest of our fillings. After 12 miles we arrived. It was really cool. Fighter jets flying over while we ate our lunch. Then we headed for the pool. The kids had a great time and the parents took quick hot showers.

Then... It happened... The fun stopped and the wind blew!

We left El Centro and hit the wind. It was hard riding. Even the downhills were difficult. Grace struggled and tears were shed, but she kept going. She felt like "barfing", but she kept going. The wind blew harder, but she kept going. We pulled into the campsite at 6:15 to the cheers of fellow riders. We then stayed and cheered for those that followed us.

We had a great dinner and setup our tent in the wind. The wind makes the tent sound like it is being attacked by animals.

My hope is that Grace will remember that she can do what seems impossible. Like she did today. It is only one more pedal.