Tierra Bella – 2006
Barb and I completed the 100k Tierra Bella yesterday. With morning showers in the forecast we woke up at 5am to clear skies and hopes that we would have a dry ride. All packed up and on the road to Gilroy by 6:20. Pulled into the start point at Gavilan College and were checked in and on our bikes by 7:30. With 62 miles ahead of us we tried to keep an even pace. In what earlier in the week looked 
like bad weather for the ride, turned out to be just right. Clear and sunny in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon. We passed the spot around the 5 mile mark where Barb had a fall two years ago. At mile 7 I got a flat. Rear tire. Hate the rear tire flat! Having planned on this but hoping we wouldn’t need it, I packed two tubes and one tire along with the patch kit and tools. Took only 10 minutes or so and we were back on our bikes. Took a break at Uvas reservoir and fueled up. Excellent banana bread ( Barb liked the blueberry), pb&j on wheat, yummy!
After that we were back on the road, cruising the MOST beautiful parts of the greater Gilroy area. Next rest stop was at mile 24. More fuel and restroom break, then the long haul to lunch at Gilroy hotsprings. A 21 mile stretch that took us over highway 101, across the farmlands of Gilroy. At around mile 35 I got a second flat!!! Just my luck and couldn’t believe it!. Whipped out the other spare tube and did another rear tire roadside change. 
Upon extreme close inspection of the tire, I found a piece of glass imbedded in the tire. Since I had a spare tire in my bag I decided to go ahead and change that too. OK, back on the bikes and ready for the hardest part of the ride. After 40 miles we begin the 4 mile up hill to Gilroy hot springs (and lunch!). They had changed the route since we did this two years ago so the first part of the uphill was new to us. Steep at the beginning and cutbacks up the hill made it slow going for Barb and I. We picked up where we were two years ago at the most difficult section of the climb. The final mile, STRAIGHT UP! Well, its feels like it anyway. At the top we cruised a nice down hill into the back side of the mountains. Streams running full and everything so so green. This is the reason to ride. Absolutely beautiful. The lunch stop at mile 44 is the best. You’ve just done 40 miles then a 4 mile climb, and you only have 18 or so to go. With a great downhill to boot!
Anyway, We hung out at the lunch stop for a while. Love the potatoes they serve. SO good! Walking back from the restroom as we were getting ready to go, Barb greets me with the news, “I HAVE A FLAT!”. What Luck for us!. Barb’s front tire picked up a piece of glass and finally deflated as we were eating our lunch. No more spares so it was repair time for Barb’s tire. Put on the patch, said a prayer and we were off. Another 5 miles of rolling hills brought us to the top of the crest and a 4 mile downhill. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Like last ride, the most difficult is the last 10 miles. Pretty good head and cross wind greeted us 
as we came back down into the valley. Back over 101 and through Gilroy and FINALLY back to Gavilan College. 62.5 miles later. SWEETNESS. A great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. A great ride for Barb and I (our first organized ride where it was just us). We talked all day about how lucky we were to have a great weather day amidst a rainy rainy early spring.