The last time we did a Davis overnight, we did a figure eight, with two loops starting both starting from the same hotel. We weren’t yet confident in actually hauling everything with two kids — and Max was only 18 months old at the time. For the regular ride, we ended up spending a long time going along flat farm roads, a little bit of hill, then a long flat ride back.
We wanted to do something with more hills this time, so we drove out to near Fairfield and started the ride from there. It’s a bit of a strange overnight bike trip with two loops from different starting points, but that’s what happened.
There was rain in the forecast for today. In fact, we planned this so last minute that there was rain in the forecast well before we booked anything. But why let a little water get in the way? We’ve done plenty of rainy rides. Though this would be the first rainy ride with Ruth exposed on the tandem, rather than safe in an enclosed Chariot trailer or the Hase in green torpedo mode.
We went straight for the green torpedo for Max (his first time in this configuration). He was quite amused. The rest of us suited up, with assorted jackets, pants, gloves, waterproof socks, booties, and helmet covers, to the preference of the rider. What gear we chose not to wear I stowed in my bags. Max started out with Anne.
As we got started, it was overcast but not especially rainy. We rode north along the foothills, before turning onto Hwy 128 and the first climb up to Monticello Dam, which forms Lake Berryessa. The climb had some steep parts, and we ended up walking for a bit. While stopped, I took off the rain covers of my bags, and joked that, of course, taking off rain covers is the best way to make the rain properly start.
Shortly after we remounted, I was proven right. The hills we were riding between channeled strong winds, and brought with it a sprinkling. We finished the climb, rode along the lake for a bit, then got a enjoyed a short descent.
Before the next climb would start we decided to stop for lunch. We found a pull out against a hill that would provide some shelter from the wind. As we ate, the rain picked up. We decided to get moving so we could warm up again before the rain became too punishing. I got to pull Max for the next segment.
The wind and rain continued for a bit, but then let up as we started climbing again. This climb was longer but shallower than the first. It was through the hills, so we couldn’t see too far ahead. I kept hoping that each turn would bring with it the peak, but most of them disappointed me. Still, we kept inching along and eventually made it. We paused to adjust gear (climbing is hot, descending is cold). Ruth was unhappy about her wet gloves, but kept trucking along.
Down down (and cold cold) we went, to all too quickly start the third climb. This one was shallower still. Shallow enough that we could hold a bit of a conversation. The kids played “plenty questions”, our road game variant of 20 questions without limits. Max chose the giant spider from Harry Potter. Ruth chose Niles Canyon.
The next top was tricky. I was expecting a long descent with some uphill sections. Instead I got more climbing with some downhill sections. The grade wasn’t too bad but I was looking forward to less pedaling. I called for a pause for a snack the next time it leveled off. When we got there, Anne announced (with the help of her bike computer) that we were at the peak for the day. My long descent was still in the future.
Ruth lost it for a few minutes. She was cold, but had been bottling it up. Anne took off her arm warmers and gave them to Ruth (Ruth’s had been forgotten at home and she had declined mine already). But what really turned things around was Max announcing a victory song. It sounded like a bunch of raspberries being blown. Silly Max got everybody laughing and we continued.
The rain had largely let up, but still made descending tricky. Both brakes and the road surface are slick. Max often likes pedaling madly on the downhills, for More Speed! But I told him not to today, since I needed to control our speed pretty closely. We still had fun.
The downhill brought us eventually into the edge of the burbs in Fairfield. By now the sun was out (mostly). Traffic was heavier, but at least there was a shoulder to ride in. There were more short climbs. Anne recognized that I was starting to wear out so she pulled us over and took Max for the last few miles. We rode along a frontage for I-80, and made it back to the van. Fortunately, the end of the ride was dry enough that none of the gear was dripping wet by the time it was ready to be loaded.
All in all, a wet but successful ride. I talked to Ruth about it after, and she agreed that it was fun overall, but hard. The arm warmers did their job and helped her regain good spirits. I think she’ll still ride with us.
