As I mentioned in my previous post, I was likely to get a late start and sure enough I didn't set out until 10 or 11. This was a little troubling because there was supposed to be some rain coming in later on but there was nothing I could do about it at that point.
The first leg of my journey was a great one. Being so close to the end of my journey it made it that much easier for me to sit back and enjoy the ride. Making my way through Downtown Sacramento and across the river and on my way through Woodland. It was all great riding with some great views to take in. No more major climbs, mild temperatures, and only that one day to get through, I had it made!
Shortly after I had made it into Woodland, however, the weather started turning south. I also had to adjust directions which put me directly into a strong headwind. The next couple hours were a bit of a blur. I just remember battling the wind and putting everything I had into the pedals to get me as close to Fairfield as I could get before the rain came. Finally I felt it, a sprinkle here, a sprinkle there, when eventually the sprinkling was a constant.
When I came to the realization that there were no longer going to be any breaks in the rain, I decided I should stop for one last meal. Also, stopping to eat would give me a chance to update my family who were constantly wanting updates so they could know when to expect me. Once again people were giving me weird looks for riding out in the rain when I pulled up. As I ate that last meal, I stopped to take in the situation. I was about a two hour ride from my house. This break would be my last major break before finally reaching home. Getting a boost of energy not only from the food but the excitement of these realizations, I scarfed down the last of my food and set out.
As I came into the heart of Vacaville, the city neighboring Fairfield, I almost made a couple mistakes. First of all, I almost made the wrong turn. If I wouldn't have taken the time to double check the directions I would have been going the wrong direction for who knows how long. Which is bad enough on a normal day but on a rainy one, it's a whole lot worse. Also, there were two potential routes that I had to choose from. The first was a route that was guaranteed but a little long and the second was not guaranteed but it was a whole lot shorter. I was fairly sure there was a bike path that cut through the hills but I had never ridden it previously so I couldn't be certain.
Being the adventurous type, I decided to go with the more risky route and it turned out to be the perfect choice. It was a great little bike path with a little park to check out, as well as the fact that it cut almost an hour off of the ride. By that time pretty much everything I was wearing was soaked so I wasn't really up for stopping to enjoy the park thoroughly but I hope to see it again some day in the future.
Even though I was completely drenched, at that point I had made peace with it and was enjoying it. It felt really good and since I knew I didn't have to worry about hopping back on the bike the next day, I didn't have to worry about working out the logistics of drying everything out. I was also joking in my head that the rain was just God's way of washing some of the stink and sweat away before getting home and interacting with people that actually knew me. Haha
The final stretch...
I reached Fairfield!!! I was now riding on roads that I knew very well. Soon, I was rounding the bend and I could almost make out the turn into the court where I grew up. By that time it was pretty dark and raining heavily. As I approached, I thought I spotted something on the corner. Sure enough, there was a large grouping of umbrellas with all my family and friends under them cheering me on. I was HOME!!!
As I pulled in, I was welcomed with big hugs and kisses from my parents followed by a ceremonial ribbon breaking (they held up a streamer that I broke through on my bike).
I was amongst family, friends, and familiarity. I could not have been happier.
More to come...
