Today is the shortest day of the tour, only 38 miles, so there's no need to leave early. And besides, I need to lube the bike chains. I washed then last night at the hotel. When we finally get around to leaving, we hear that Wilson has left early because he believes it's going to start raining at noon.Except for a short section, there is very little traffic today. This is partially due to the many bike paths we use. The original plan was for coffee at Glen Ellen, just 10 miles down the road. Somehow we miss this spot but find a Pete's Coffee shop in Santa Rosa at mile 25. In no hurry, we linger here a while. Then, on an unpaved section of a bike path out of Santa Rosa, I believe I feel a mist on my face. 'Look at my watch and discover it's 11:58 - Wilson was 2 minutes off. For the rest of the ride, about 70 minutes, the rain gets harder and harder. Our Gortex is in the van. We both have jackets with us but never put them on. When the rain starts light, it's not worth putting on the jacket. We're like the frog who just sits in the pot of water as it gets hotter; we just get wetter and wetter until it's not worth putting on the jackets.
Tonight is the last night of the tour so we will have a group dinner here in Occidental. The dinner is at an Italian restaurant. Italian immigrants came here in the late 19th century because the mountainous and wooded region reminded them of Tuscany. They worked the railroads, lumber camps and ranches. Enterprising women began cooking meals for the workers in their own kitchens.
We took a group photo last night which I've shown here. Tomorrow we return to Petaluma; Brenda and I will quickly change and pack the car (Don't forget the two cases of wine we bought at Calistoga Cellars) and head North. Next stop, visiting friends in Tacoma, Washington.
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