QMDC Day 5 Summary

Another beautiful start out of Santa Barbara with a promise of continued good weather and great ride down the coast to Marina Del Rey covering 90 miles. Started out with a relaxed morning and photos with Dave Zabriski of Garmin as we all went out at our various times based on how easy or hard we were prepared to take it heading down the coast.

A special surprise treat for all of us with the lunch stop being the mobile In-N-Out Burger truck meeting us down in Point Mugu right on the beach. Was a stop-start moment as the In-N-Out truck got lost trying to find us and I was about to head out with the big group including the Garmin team just as the truck pulled in. Decided that it would just be a waste to miss the opportunity so stayed back for the longest break of the trip and enjoyed a nice cheeseburger with Scott Kaplan and the rest of the radio team taking photos and sharing experiences of the week so far. It was an excellent time and felt great to spend additional time with some of the best people I know.

Became a slow start out of lunch with a full belly and a group of folks that wanted to pull thru and get through the hills coming by Pepperdine and into Malibu. Came by several groups including Sean on his handcycle cranking along through Malibu and just smiling away. Couldn't have been a more enjoyable ride. I ended up rolling with a group that narrowed to be just Brian Brillo, Lisa Jennings and I as we rolled into the SAG stop across from Pepperdine. We cruised through and into Santa Monica with another radio rider, Mark Vandierendonck, with a real treat as Brian and I were stopped by a videographer amongst the big top tents on the beach. Brian and I were asked if we would ride by slow so they could add us to the promo video they were shooting and we said, "SURE, Why Not!" They then handed Brian and I huge red clown noses and we rolled by with serious looks and these huge ridiculous clown noses on while they shot the video, which happened to be for the touring Cirque de Soleil and supposedly will be on the web in a week - we'll see - but all good fun.

Rolled through Venice and into Marina Del Rey with Brian after an enjoyable cruise along the bike path. Just another great day with surprising experiences and simple good fun!