Day 3: Sacramento, CA to Auburn, CA

Day 3: 05 June 2007

Sacramento, CA to Auburn, CA.  51 Miles.

Day’s Theme:
Start the climb...

Weather/Terrain:
Well, it was a good day to ride – maybe 70, and overcast.  The first 34 miles were a joy – all along a beautiful bike path called the American River Bikeway.  Spectacular.  I did it no justice with my pictures, but, it was a joy.  We ended our ride on the path at Folsom Lake, then got on the roads to climb to Auburn.  We climbed about 1300 feet today – all at the end.  This apparently is the end of the good time – it will get rough tomorrow.

How I feel:
Well, Robert and I finished almost last today – I kept him throttled back.  We have a week of hell ahead of us, and I want to be fresh.  I handled this little climb into Auburn very easily, and was felling very optimistic about things when I ended our ride into the hotel parking lot.  Well, the day went to hell in the parking lot – wrenched my back lifting my luggage.  I really need to learn to pack better.  I’ll live. I’ll just walk crooked…..

Notable Events:
Nothing too significant to report. 

Pictures:
What’s Happening:






Not sure you can see it, but this is a mother turkey and about 20 chicks trying to get away from me just like the CCC Group.. 











This is the American River.  Very pretty.













This is taken from the same spot as, not as zoomed in.












This was a pretty high crossing.












The only rest stop today was at Folsom Lake.  Very pretty – all kinds of recreation in and around here.  Rattlesnakes and mountain lions just to add to the fun.












Another shot of Folsom Lake.







We had a pretty steep 1.4 mile climb into Auburn.  Obviously, Arlene was unaffected by it.  I thought she was going to ride back down and do it again just for fun!
 
Just two miles earlier she created her own “Rest Stop” – she was picking wild plums and gave me one to eat – very delicious!!






Robert at the top of the climb.
 
I think he wanted to punch me in the head.






OK, I will admit I suck at photography.  But I will blame it on the stupid Nikon Camera – it takes 7 seconds to take a picture after you hit the button!
 
Anyway, Erin here also ate the hill up.  She lives in Hawaii, and her husband is in the US Armed Forces and stationed oversees right now.








Rick is so strong, he decided to pass up the SAG today and just ride through. 
 
I offered him a full water bottle, but, he kind of politely implied that I looked like I needed it.