Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2 (2003)

Day by Day Coverage: Day 5 - Santa Maria to Lompoc

Short and Sweet

Many Cyclists emerged from their tents this morning dressed in red, a Day 5 tradition stretching way back. There were dresses on all genders, and plenty of red undergarments worn on the outside.

The short route (55 miles) took Cyclists past Santa Maria’s flat farmlands, until the first of the hills began at mile 17. At the top, a Roadie with a bullhorn sang, “What goes up … must come down ...” An important question this chilly morning was, how many layers to wear on the hills? If you’re bundled in too many on the way up, you’ll boil in your own sweat; too few layers, you’ll freeze.

In tiny Casmalia, right before Rest Stop 2, the school district (with a grand total of 31 students) held a steak BBQ fundraiser at Winnifred Wollam Elementary School. Many Cyclists gathered to chow down and read letters written to them by the students, such as this one by a second grader, dated June 5: “Thank you for working hard to help people that are sick or sad and tank you for coming to our sckool and for traveling around the word to help people from anywhere and for being nice to people instead of being all mean and grouchy!”

The Chicken Lady, a Cyclist who has participated in more AIDS biking fundraisers than anyone can count, has been leaving presents for the sharp-eyed among us. Today, her stuffed-animal chicken turned up around mile 25, nestled in a turnoff. The chicken offered passersby Gatorade, cookies, and snack bars – but the best present was the egg carton with plastic eggs, each containing a special treat (and bird feathers).

Because bikes aren’t allowed to cross Highway 1, Cyclists had to take a 6-mile detour up a hill to get to an intersection, and loop back around. Those working their way up could see their colleagues blazing down the hill on the other side. Unfortunately there’s no way around it … but around it.

Some of the day’s treats …

· At Rest Stop #3, themed as “Ruby’s Diner,” Lerlean from Kansas City wrote out Guest Checks for folks -- “Hottie on Rye,” “Super double love burger with cheese,” “Cutie Pie (hot)” -- while a waiter zoomed by on rollerblades.

· The day’s major hill was heavily forested by pine trees, and the sounds of whistles and music around the bend kept us moving. The view was perhaps the best yet on the ride, and lots of Cyclists posed for snapshots.

· On the other side of the hill, a man and his two boys gave out freshly picked strawberries, and his youngest asked all passing Cyclists to autograph his shirt.

We ended the day with plenty of sunlight, at Lompoc River Park. It was the perfect setting for the wedding of Sarah Buxton (Cyclist #2039) and Roberto Quintana (Cyclist #2038), two Cyclists who met on the Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride in 2000. They were married under the dinner tent in front of 1,300 of their closest friends.

-- Jeff Brock, ALC Webmaster & Cyclist #5410
Reporting from Lompoc

Check out today's photos!

Read today's journal entries from:

• Danelle
• Darrel
• Diane
• Tien