To the graduated class of BDC 2013 Finishers, and all other Wantabees' and
Wished I would haves',
First, the weather was about as good as it ever gets all around Borrego
Double Century!
There were three start times: 4:30, 5:30, and 6:00.
Even though there was a 6am start time, Joel Sothern still blew by everyone
and set a new course record of 11 hours, 58 minutes! Congratulations Joel!!
He rode the double by himself, coming in with no competition.
All was quiet and calm climbing out of Borrego this year. As the sun rose
higher, the breezes came along on the upper half of 11 mile Montezuma grade.
At the top, it was cold enough to slip on a windbreaker, long fingered
gloves, and keep moving. Volunteer Lynne Billie, here at the first rest stop
enjoyed taking pictures of everyone, while Frank Neal helped riders remove
lights & put on warm clothes.
Ken Mathis welcomed the riders in Santa Ysabel with hot apple pie. His phone
had quit working, so he never got the messages to stop by and pick up the
supplies for rest stop 2. Being concerned, I put the supples for Rest Stop 7
in my van as a plan B. Survival training and thinking, along with RAAM
experiences paid off this time!
Lots of downhill on back roads as the riders made their way to Escondido,
Rest Stop 3. Here, at the end of the bike path, Volunteers Ed Ebright,
Carlos Torres, and Arturo Vaszcan said the riders seemed to like the gormet
healthy PB&J sandwiches Ed had made up the night before, the best of
everything out there.
More gradual down hill, all the way to the ocean where lunch was waiting,
right on the beach next to the Oceanside Pier. Here, Volunteers Jed Staley,
(Cardiff By the Sea), Steve & Virgina Meichtry (West Lake) and their
daughter from San Diego made custom sandwiches for the riders as well as all
the Volunteers. It was a party scene as the area was full of beach babies
celebrating Memorial Day weekend. Some thought they'd rather stay there for
the rest of the day, however Borrego had a stronger magnet.
Onward on the bike path for seven miles, with tailwinds pushing them towards
the long maeandering climb on Lilac grate. Frank Neal was at the water stop,
half way up. Today it was cool, and the nylons for would-be ice collars went
un-used.
Cole Grade Rd., RS 5, home of the yogurt-fruit smoothies by Lynn Billie,
were a delight as always. Credit for the smoothie invention goes to Fred
Klinzman, by the way. Here it was breezy and warm, but not hot. Lynne had
everything all set up and down to a science! Carlos and Arturo, who had
driven in all the way from Tiajuana to volunteer, said they enjoyed helping
the riders who seemed quite appreciative.
A top the last tough grade, the sign announcing the turn off for Palomar
Mtn. is gladly bi-passed. Three miles of downhill, then flat through the
mountains all the way to Lake Henshaw, the 6th Rest Stop. Manned by
Volunteer Ed Ebright from Carlsbad, he looked like a pro at volunteering
with his comfy rocking chair, and everything set up under the shade of a
tree. Riders appreciated the chunky chicken noodle stew here the most, along
with the needed Hammer products.
There are four flat miles to the T, a right turn on S2 which leads into a 4%
grade for about 4 miles, then down hill to the next T, in Santa Ysabel, then
a climb up to the one-horse country-western town of Julian, with one stop
sign. Volunteer Don Tolbert, (a retired Marine, 6x ironman, & 20 marathon
finshes from Yucca Valley), set up this stop, right at the end of the .2
mile town, just before the long downhill, Banner grade. Since he'd ridden
the Staff ride, he was able to answer all the riders questions about the
miles ahead of them. Lynne Billie was also there to help serve hot stew and
get the riders into warmer clothes for the down hill.
At the bottom of Banner grade, the riders were now back in the desert and
being pushed back to Borrego with tailwinds. This is a fun part of the
double with lots of downhill and beautiful desert scenery in the day light,
or lots of stars at night. Even the last 2.5 mile climb up Yaki Pass wasn't
so bad with those tailwinds in summertime.
Downhill, city lights a ways away, full moon overhead, the only challenge
left was the flat 2 mile headwind, which finally lets up as the road curves
to the right, three miles out from Borrego.
Not much in Borrego, "Christmas Circle" around the city park, no signals,
and then just around that circle the Riders are welcomed home at Hacienda
Del Sol Motel.
Homemade enchiladas, heated up by the kitchen microwave along with rice,
beans and apple pie were served by Frank Neal and myself.
Riders ate on the patio under a full moon, with calm, cool desert air. The
last rider came in at 12:40pm, just as proud and tough as the first rider!
You know, you look st the times of these Riders, including the riders on the
Staff double, and all it tells you is the time started and the time
Finished. Yet there's a wonderful story to be told by every single Rider!
And there's wonderful story to by told by every single Volunteer! I wish you
could hear them all!
It was an awesome day for Borrego Double Century, and also an awesome day
after, as at the cold cereal breafast around the pool, we went through the
stories of every single Silent Rider, and how they contributed to the lives
of us still living. John Clare's words about his father, who'd ridden 152
double centuries were particularly momentous. This year we added a new name
to the riders listed on the jersey sleeves, Steve Bowen. It would have been
nice to have had someone there who rode with him, talk about him. We still
paused to remember.
Borrego Double Century, a time to make a memory, a time to remember all our
Silent Riders with us in spirit.
See you next year, in Borrego!
Anny Beck, Ride Director
25 Finshers, The Few, The Tough, The Proud!!! Two DNF's who claimed "the
other side of valor is knowing when to retreat."
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