Day 2 from Santa Cruz to King City is a long one, but relatively flat. Having to ride thru Santa Cruz, Capitola and Aptos streets even with bike lanes was slow and tedious due to morning traffic, fog and traffic lights. Rest Stop1 was at Manresa State Beach at mile 13.7 and from there we were in fields of strawberries and unknown produce, with a brief stint on Highway 1 to Moss Landing, and Rest Stop 2 at mile 36.7 was at Windy Hill Park in Marina, then on to Central Park in Salinas for lunch stop at mile 45.0.
After lunch, we head out of Salinas to River Road and follow this for about 30 miles, with Rest Stop 3 at Pessagna Winery, which was still a huge dirt lot, and not packed dirt either. From there on to the Water Stop at Soledad Mission at mile 75.4.
In the next stretch is the green bridge skinny dipping point, and one of the Moto Crew as there before crossing the bridge to advise "Swim or climb." Last year, we stopped to check out the swimming below, but then you have to start climbing immediately, so this year I did not stop.
So after climbing briefly into head winds or with side winds, the next stop is an unofficial one, the Cookie Lady stop. She bakes tons of cookies and passes them out to riders, I tried the oatmeal chocolate chip, and they were the best ever. But back on the bike on to Rest Stop 4, and then the nasty stretch beforewe get to Metz Road, with the Salinas winds from the north as we head east. Fortunately this year we only encountered 2 semi's headed west, as the combiniation of side winds and these trucks nearly blows you into the ditch. Scott commented on how much I was riding leaning, but I think we all were.
From there, it's 10 miles to camp with a tail wind, and so this stretch goes quite nicely, even with a few climbs, most of it was at 20 mph+.
Arrive at San Lorenzo County Park in King City, Day 2 done!