Today began early, really early. I woke up about 4:30 and started packing.

I needed to be on the road by 6:00 am to beat the heat. It was going to be 100 in the valley and that was a ride I did not want to do. A diet coke down, the tire pressures checked & bike packed: it’s time to go! I ride out of the parking lot at 5:59!

It’s definitely not warm. In fact it’s damn cold for August. The mercury is near 60 as it’s the coldest part of the day. You can see a little color to the east indicative but the sky is mostly a deep steel blue. God was a bit late this morning as the sun did not peak over the horizon until 6:45, not 6:36.

This is big farming country. Most of the food produced in CA is grown here. The only problem is the air quality stinks. If it’s not tractor exhaust, it’s chemicals, or manure. I can’t get out of here fast enough! I run into another rider at the gas station who is going to buy the 05 model of my bike, so we chat for a while while I warm up.

Diet coke was not strong enough to start the body so I step up to Mountain Dew which did the trick. It was great to get to the 80 freeway. I’m back in the bay area. It was windy as all get out coming down the back side of the bay. I just hate wind. Nothing screws with a rider more than wind.

I arrive in Mountain View right on schedule from MapPoint. It’s the first day of the entire trip I’ve made my schedule. I guess sabbaticals are ok if they are that way. I’m ok with it as I’m never on time for anything.