Day 2: Fairfield to Sacramento.

Time Zone : Pacific (GMT -8)
Todays Distance 57 miles
Cycling time 4hrs 04 mins

Today’s cumulative ascent 758 ft
Average Heart rate 104 bpm

Distance so far: 141 miles

Ascent so far: 4787 ft.

Today's profile

Dedication: Today is for all the Abbey students preparing for Junior and Leaving Cert, particularly my own Maths and Irish students. Lads, give your very best shot.

Today was an easy one with a short distance and no climbing of note. Strange to think that we have climbed almost 5000 feet and are still only 30 feet above sea-level.

Breakfast (Grand Slam) at 6.30 in Denny's nearby and with the luggage loaded at 8 am we all moved off in small groups of various sizes. I started out with Jeff, an American now living in New Zealand. ( He had been a Maths teacher earlier in life). We dealt admirably with the navigation while discussing the intricacies of trigonometry and cubic equations !! We had today's 'major' climb shortly after starting - a short one of about 150 feet. We knew today was not going to be great for scenery but it was of interest. Fertile ground with irrigation channels growing a variety of produce. I saw fields of barley being harvested and I wallowed on the smell of new-mown hay as we passed along Walters Road just east of Fairfield.

The navigation was predictable - like horizontal steps of stairs, right, left, right, left etc. And the wind was in our favour especially in the early hours and we tipped along at almost 20 mph across the landscape. Utter bliss. We ccriss-crossed railway lines many times and such crossings can be dangerous should the wheel drop down by the rail on the level-crossings (much more dangerous than at home). One train that passed by us at the 31 mile mark was at least half-a-mile long (no exageration) and only one engine at the front. Wouldn't having that engine when we hit the Sierras and the Rockies. Our one and only SAG stop today was at the 32 mile mark and it was still only 10.30. By lunchtime we had pulled into Davis through its University campus; it seemed to be an excellent location for us to stop for a sit-down lunch. Our group had now grown to 8. A quick visit to one of the many bike shops in town and then a beautiful bagel and fruit juice to top up the energy tanks.

Out of Davis we had a long spin on a bike path right beside Interstate-80. The constant noise was deafening and prevented any conversation. We had the 5 mile of bike path to ourselves as we powered along in 30 degrees of heat but a beautiful breeze made it so enjoyable and relaxing. Within a short time we passed over the Tower Bridge facing up the main thoroughfare of Sacramento looking at the State Capitol. That would be for later in the afternoon.

A quick left turn brought us into Old Sacramento, looking as it did in thr days of the Gold Rush with cobblestone streets (not nice to cycle on) and wooden sidewalks. Sacramento was the western terminus of the Pony Express( the 1966 mile mail run from Missouri) as there was a railroad from there right down to San Francisco. We could come back to this area later in the afternoon.

At 2.15 our group pulled into the Best Western Sandman Motel still feeling fresh but keen to freshen up with a shower and a change.

Anxious to make the best of our time here a group of us (Martin, John, Amy, Sue , Jeff and self) headed back on foot to investigate the Old town. Martin ( from Germany) and I walked on to the State Capitol to meet Governor Arnold. we got to the door of his suite of offices to be told that he was not in town today. That was his loss. So Martin and I had an interesting 5 mile walk before Route Rap (the details of tomorrow's itinerary). I had a quick relaxing swim before dinner in the adjacent Mexican Restaurant with the full group.

So many of the group are asking me about Providence and the reason I'm doing the cycle. I'm thrilled to explain all the good work being done there. The shirt has created an awareness. Just today one cyclist caught up from behind wanting to know if I got a shot of Providence Road just back the way. I couldn't be doing the cycle for a better cause.

Not a great scenery day, but a great day of pleasant cycling. No one in the group has hit a 'Should-I-give-it-up-now' patch yet. It's early days yet. It will happen to us all at one stage or other but hopefully the group dynamic will pull us through.

Thank God for the health and the energy.