We woke to the rain falling from the ‘ Big Ugly’ that had moved in overnight. Forecast was rain for the next three days.!!!!

We waited until it started to slow down a little . . . stalling as long as we could. Here Tom and Gina are talking to one of the staff from the Coast to Coast ride. Their group of 42 riders will be leaving from the Ocean Villa in six days. They’ll pass us in Louisiana when we stop  for the 4 day Cycle Zydeco and a side trip to New Orleans.

He was nice enough to take a shot of our happy group us as we stalled some more waiting for the clearing that was supposed to take place at noon.

With a little break in the rain about 10:30am, we headed down to Dog Beach for our formal, start of the ride photo, and the traditional cross country rider tradition of dunking the back wheel in the Pacific Ocean. We’ll dunk the front wheel it the Atlantic when we get to Florida. Our happy group at the beach. You can see part of the large dog paw stencil on the round concrete pad.

It was time for the dunking  . . . BUT no body else wanted to dunk. So only I did!

We passed the Ocean Villa motel on the way out, our home for the last two nights. Good place with a great view of the doggies on the beach.

The first 12 miles of todays ride was a paved trail through the south side of San Diego heading to Lakeside. We no more started biking and  it started to rain . . . and rain . . . and rain. It ended up raining all day . . . no break in the weather.

Trails, roads and byways would be our home for the next two months. Right now the trail in San Diego is also home to many homeless. Quite a contrast, them pushing everything they own in a shopping cart or pull behind bike cart and we leisurely riding across the US with a sag vehicle and all the time in the world.

Here was another chap camped out in the bush. The plastic bag on the ground to the right of the bike was him sleeping in a plastic garbage bag trying to stay dry.

39 miles latter we arrived in Alpine after climbing 2,300 feet from sea level. We were all soaked, the temp was 54 and it was time for hot showers, a load or two of wash and  Mexican dinner.

Tomorrow the forecast is for more rain, cooler temps and another 2,000 feet of climbing. Should sleep good tonight!