We have purchased our gear. Panniers, a stove, sleeping bags, journals, and a hundred other things. Arrangements made to take care of the cats. Plans laid to meet my brother for dinner at the end of the first day. We'll start trying out different packing schemes soon. I took a bicycle maintenance class at REI to try to be ready for minor breakdowns.

We have started to get cautious. We don't want to suffer an injury that would prevent riding in the last month before we go. Anxiety is amplifying normal pains. My knees hurt; Michele's shoulder bothers her.

We made our annual ride from Alameda to Santa Cruz. The ride is roughly 80 miles, much of it pretty hilly. The weather was cold and threatening, but we suffered no more than sprinkles. It seemed hard this year, maybe because of occasional headwinds. Certainly not because we're older! Michele and Roy are trudging up the mountain in the photos.