Sunny California

After departing Las Vegas, we drove through the night to Hayley’s home in Encinitas, CA, just outside of San Diego. The cool air coming off of the ocean was a welcome sensation after spending the past week in 90 – 110 degree heat. After a group nap, Hayley’s family treated us to burgers and shakes at the 101 Diner in downtown Encinitas. Our first day in California would not have been complete without a stop at the local fruit stand to stock up on perfectly ripe cantaloupe, plums, berries and avocado. That night, Chris led Brent, Colleen, Merritt, and Kate into San Diego to watch the Padres defeat the Phillies in a close 1-0 pitchers’ duel.

Friday morning began with a plethora of breakfast choices, and I think the whole crew agreed that something as simple as cereal and cold milk never tasted so good. Next up was the long awaited trip to the beach – the Pacific Ocean, finally! – and attempts by all to get up on two feet on the Kennedy family surf boards. A few hours of playing and reading on the beach proved to be just the R&R that we all needed. Over a delicious trout dinner, Hayley’s parents Audrey and Bill (who are both former professional cyclists) kept Whitney captivated with their stories and updates on the Tour de France 2007 and paved the way for a following over the next two weeks.

Saturday morning started slow, watching the first time trial of the Tour de France and walking to Barnes and Noble to acquire some new reading material for Nate and Kate – the seventh and final installment of Harry Potter! The rest of the group hit up the thrift stores in downtown Encinitas where Esther and Merritt made some amazing finds. The day ended with a neighborhood potluck in the Kennedy’s cul-de-sac where we enjoyed some great home cooked dishes and showed off the bus to kids and parents alike.

On Sunday morning Colleen, Frances and Brent took the chase car and forged ahead to Los Angeles where they planned to spend the next night and day with various friends and family. The ladies will rejoin us on Monday in Santa Barbara, but we’ll be without Brent until we roll into his home state of Wisconsin in three weeks – farewell and take care friend! The rest of the crew spent their final full day in this sunny paradise with more thrift shopping, finishing Harry Potter, a final stint at the beach and lunch at the local burrito joint Juanita’s. We returned home to the Kennedy’s for a TV dinner around the first Pyrenees stage of the tour to watch Contador take the stage from the leader Rasmussen in the final 200 meters. We haven’t had such edge-of-your-seat excitement in recent memory and the crew’s attention over the next few days will likely be divided between following the race and plowing through Harry Potter.

- whitney

Girls and their boards!
The whole group at the beach!