We're finally in the motel in San Diego and have already met several of the riders, staff, and Bubba. [The name just fits]. As soon as we arrived we were outfitted with new duffel bag, back pack, rain jacket, wind jacket, warm jacket, warm hat, ball cap, vest, long sleeve and short sleeved t-shirts, and nice long sleeve shirt. Bernie's bike shop had our bikes ready. Life is good!
After time chatting with our fellow coasters we took off for a short ride to make sure the gears work and all fitting adjustments are correct. Learning experience #1: It is impossible to run through 30 gears on a flat bike path with a speed limit of 8mph. Learning experience #2: Running over shells is not a good idea. They look so innocuous and I was dodging pedestrians and skate boarders. Sea shell apparently shatter and slice tires - brand new tire to be exact. Lesson #3: Don't even go around the block without the tool kit. Mine was still in the suitcase. Lesson #4. If the tire is sliced don't put the new tube in and inflate. It will bulge out of the slice. Second new tube popped. First put a dollar in the tire to cover the slit. Really, it works. Thank you to the stranger who stopped to help and donated a CO2 cartridge to the endeavor.
We finished the evening with a delightful waterside dinner with our niece and family. Great conversation, good food and two little children who just put wonder back into the world. Life is indeed good.
