Day 6 & 7: Monster mountain climb, coffee with a Pro, pics, surreal experiences.

Check it out, some pro athletes are total d- bags.  But this blog entry documents how one Kelly Pro that I met out of the blue was very personable and another that I have known for awhile is a hell of a guy.
Day 6 was a total rest day; it ended with many beers by a gas-light "firepit."

It was the perfect way to prepare for a monster Saturday ride.  I got to chill with some good people not related to the cycling world.
Day 7 was planned as a big group ride up into the hills, going over the 1100 foot mountain pass into Lake Casitas and beyond.  When I got to the parking lot I thought we were meeting at...
I saw this guy:

and I was confused because I knew the kit and thought he was somebody else and neither of us knew where exactly where everyone else was.  His name is Jesse, he has been winning several different pro races in the last few years.  He was cool and agreed to be on my blog (thanks, bro) we had both escaped the east coast for some fun in the sun.  Onto the ride:  the Group was approaching: look closely on the left of the pic

The ride started cool as we went along the breakers, super surreal.

 I think each photo is click-able for a larger version.  We went along the beach area and then into the foothill area.

 We went through the cool beach town called... of course Summerland.  I took this shot doing a dangerous maneuver on the bike to get the group behind me, it kinda worked.

Some pro riders in this shot. 










Then I broke off with this guy (seen below) and went all the way back to town for coffee.

You can see us in the reflection (photo left), I am not a good photographer.
Tom and I were discussing life and all of its wonderful intricacies and tackling some tough global policy issues related to everyone.  It was a super-intense conversation.  In this photo he explains how people look different when you block out their surroundings.

Then we saw some real dogs.

Now on to the real monster part of the ride.  I broke off solo after some interesting directions from Tom.
I was a beast and did the famous Gibraltar climb.  I was out for so long and got to over 4000 feet, that I got really dehydrated.  I was about to get desperate.  I was ALMOST about to ask any stranger that I saw (and there were just about one per half hour up there) for any spare water- but you never know what those hippies are really drinking.  The elevation profile:

I was unzipped, mouth was cracking, semi-delirious. Still taking odd shadow photos of myself.
Then I got to the other side of the 4000 moutnain ridge with spectacular views:

After making it back down San Marcos pass, going very quickly, 50 mph ish.  I hit the Subway on the north side of town.  I then spent about an hour in the hot tub and pool.
Totals for Day 7: about 75 miles, about 5.5 hours.  Suntan.
Final Day 8 post finally coming later.

I miss you Tom!  Best of luck this year, see you in July.