Tierra Bella recap- WE DID IT!
The Tierra Bella was yesterday. The 100k route was 65 miles. Our start time was 7:40am and we finished around 2:00pm. We took advantage of the 3 rest stops. Total “bike time” was just over 5 hours. Our team was Barb, Diane, Ben and yours truly. Ben works with Diane at hp and rode with us on the Surf City Century last summer. This event was sold out so I think there were over 2000 riders participating.
As you know, we are training for “Americas most beautiful ride” around Lake Tahoe in June. If Tahoe is America’s most beautiful ride, then Tierra Bella is a very close second. The scenery was stunning! I never knew such beauty existed down Gilroy way. Mike (the Kahuna) Camello turned us on to this ride and we thank him for this. We will definitely make this a “must ride” next year. The area around Uvas resevior and the loop up and near Gilroy Hot Springs and Canada road make you foget that you are riding 100 kilometers.
About 7 miles into our ride, Barbie took a little tumble. We were cruising this beautiful, tree shaded country road, riding side by side and just chatting. Our handle bars bumped each other and she lost control. Barb was on the inside so when we bumped she actually went off the pavement and was trying to regain control in the leafy “side ditch”. She was doing great and almost out of trouble when she came upon the top of a ice chest that someone had either tossed or lost. She avoided the cooler top with her front tire but clipped her rear tire causing her to go down hard. Fast and hard. She didn’t move for a few seconds which was kind of scary. Needless to say, Barb left a little piece of herself on the road that day. Here is a picture of her when we got home. This being a family web site prevents us from showing you all of her injuries.
It looked a lot worse on the road. This is after she cleaned up a little.
Well, Barb being the trooper she is, picked herself up, dusted herself off, checked her bike and kept on riding! You go Barbie!!
Our biggest concern going into this ride was the climb up to Gilroy Hot Springs. See “Tierra Bella Tuneup” from a previous post. So after riding 39 miles we begin our climb. Its 3.5 miles up with some pretty steep parts along the way. Several “road bikers” were either stopped to rest or were walking their bikes up! Felt good to pass these folks knowing that our extra hill training was paying off. When I got to the “top of the hill” I took these pictures of Barb and Diane as they were coming to the crest. Click the pic for a better view.
And here is a self portrait of Barb and I at the top of the hill, after 43 miles.
From the top of the hill it was a two mile down hill to the last rest stop. Here is the team looking rested and ready for the final 20 miles to the finish. Click the pic for a better view
After a fun, fast and exhilarating 4 mile down hill, the last 8 miles getting to the finish was the hardest. But we did it! The post ride party at Gavilan College consisted of BBQ chicken, beans, salad and garlic bread.
All in all, a great day and a great ride. We felt so good that after we got home, we went to Toto’s with the Lewellyn Family for a pizza feast. What a life!
Saturday night we made yet another trip to Toto’s pizza with Clan Lewellyn. Three weeks in a row! That should tell you how much we like that pizza. And the Lewellyns!! : ) 
Easter morning we went to the 10 o’clock mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Afterwards, we spent a peaceful day at home. We made a nice brunch, I mowed the lawn, watched Phil Mickelson win the Master’s, the Giants beat the Padres, even
