Are We Having Fun Yet?

Are we having fun yet?  Good question.  The answer, in a word, for most of the day was no.  Neither of us enjoyed today much,  but that changed at 6:03 pm.  That is when we crossed the American River.  Seeing an actual river was the key that mentally for the both of us, turned it into an adventure. Sort of being on the other side of Sacramento at that point helped as well.  I've been to Sacramento enough times doing glass shows, to feel like it is still home turf.  Now we are away from home, and that has always been a part of the plan. 

So, why no fun today?  Well, another flat tire for starters.  That made the 3rd flat on my rear tire in just 2 days.  Prior to getting the flat, we did stop at a bike shop where I purchased a "thorn resistant" tube and another spare tire. It didn't take long before I installed them both.  Now, for the uninformed on the scientific method, I did a classic error; I manipulated 2 different variables at the same time.  Now, if I stop getting flats, we will never know whether it was the tire or the tube that made the difference.  DO YOU THINK THAT I CARE?  No,  I would just like to see my occurrence of flats go down to about one a week - or less!

Okay, fixing a flat isn't the worst thing in the world, so Riley contributed to the mechanical nightmare.  Well, it wasn't exactly Riley making a contribution by breaking something deliberately, but it was equipment on his bike.  One of the mounting brackets for his rear panniers gave way outside of Davis, so I got to go McGyver on the project and figure out a quick fix.  Cal-Trans donated a piece of wire from the fence between us and the freeway, and I was able to bend loops into the ends to make a bracket that could be used to tie the pannier on.  I think that that happened at about 3:30.

Prior to all of that was the fact that neither of us slept particularly well last night, so we got another late start - about 10:30-10:40.  But I am now perfectly willing to just chalk it all up to  working out a few bugs.  I am hoping to get a good start tomorrow, get in 40 or more miles by noonish, and finish early, which is to say before 6:00.  Today the towel got thrown in at about 6:30.

We are currently sitting at a picnic table near the American River, about 7 miles upstream form where it hits the Sacramento River  I would have been game to rent another room for the night, after about 10 more miles of riding, but Riley was spent, so he voted for camping.  Camping is not 'allowed' at this location, but of all the laws that I have broken to-date, this will certainly not rate as the most significant.

Now an hour has lapsed, we have set up the tent for bug protection, and are just about bedded down for the night.  There is no real access to the river right here, so these horses were ridden hard, and put away wet.  It's a shame, but we are content at the moment.

Update: The above posting was written last night, but due to technology issues, could not be posted until I found free wifi at Starbucks this morning. And that of course, was not before waking up to find a flat fron tire on my bike. It is now 8:20 am on Saturday June 9, and we're ready to hit the road. If I forget to mention it, ask obout our adventures with a bridge troll. If only the largest of the Billy Goats Gruff had been there.

Dale