The Ceremonial Start

We officially began our bike ride across the country with a ceremonial dip of the rear wheel in the ocean today. We loaded our bike with nearly everything to  test our ability to carry all that stuff. Then we rode to Mission Beach 16 miles and dipped the rear tire in the surf.  Our bathroom scale said the bike weighed 56 pounds and the gear added another 63 pounds, but the bike handled well. The weather was perfect and we stopped at Rubio's for lunch. Overall it was a great 32 mile ride to start our journey.

The truth from Ruth: There was a girl scout selling cookies and I talked my husband into buying some for me. Yum yum!