Final Training Ride

T-3
We’re in San Diego. We picked up our bikes at the bike shop on Tuesday- Shout out to Roger who owns Bernie’s Bike Shop on Cable Street — a master of his craft. The bikes ride perfectly.

Yesterday we took our final training ride – a short 20 miles out and back from the Ocean Hotel. SD has great bike lanes and bike paths. We rode along the path for most of the ride — there were a few places where we rode past old men who had their entire lives on their backs or in a grocery cart, and a few tent cities. People need a place to be. I said hello to one man as I rode past, and his terse, Yeah Right, response put me in my place.

I don’t know why, but it reminded me of an experience I had in New Orleans about a dozen years ago. Our law department had a conference there, and in the evening we all descended on Bourbon Street for drinks and music. Outside one bar, I saw a man in fatigues. No big deal, except that he also was wearing bunny ears. I thought how unusual, I’ll take a picture. Big Mistake. He was on me in a flash, demanding my camera. He followed me down the street as I high tailed it out of there. He was also carrying some sort of machete. Finally, my colleague, Darlene, who was out with me, got in his face and told him to F-Off. She was raised in NY, and clearly braver than I. He obeyed and disappeared. Everyone should have a Darlene by their side! Anyway, just a random memory.

Tomorrow is a free day, then Saturday we meet up with the group for logistics and dinner, and then meet at the Beach on Sunday morning!