Day 5

Upon awakening and opening my tent flap, I was greeted by a cold, thick mist-fog-drizzle with gusts of wind. Nice. Sometimes it's harder than others to be a glass half-full kind of optimist, but as I ate my first breakfast, I reflected that really, things could be much worse. I tried out my first wet-tent takedown which proved interesting. I can actually take the inner tent down inside while the rainfly and poles are still up with the footprint. Keeps the tent quite a bit drier, but slightly awkward! Some of the group declined to ride due to the wind and rain, but we persevered.

Bill had yet another flat--so we waited for the fog to clear a little and then set off for our last pie in Julian. Lovely apple pie with a hot chai. :) We enjoyed the descent, but bemoaned the fog which completely cut off any chance of a good view of anything but the road. Our water-stop was at a bakery, and after wringing the water from our gloves and socks, we enjoyed their hot drinks, turnovers and rocking chairs from which we began to drip-dry. 

Bill M. enjoying the respite from the rain.

We cycled to to the "large" town of Ramona (population 15,000 and proud owner of a Super K-mart) and our first stop was a laundromat. Gerda had gone in before us but we amazed the locals by squelching in and then taking layer after layer of our wet clothes off. We removed everything we decently could and then cozied up to the warm machines as our outer layers spun dry. 

the Laundromat Loiterers in their element...me, Don, Bill M. and Gerda

happy beyond words to be warm and dry!

After yet another coffee and snack stop (afternoon tea), we headed to Dos Picos County Park. Wouldn't you know it, as we got close to the camp, the clouds finally broke and we were treated to a few wonderful rays of sunshine! I even got to set up my tent before the map meeting and dinner--a truly unusual occurrence! Despite the miserable weather, we came through it all smiling and enjoying (almost) every moment! :)