Day 1 Newport Beach to Redlands Ca

Day started early for me at 2 30 wide awake with lots of thoughts about stuff with Sea to Sea and how people are anxious and worried that things will go well. I said good bye to Hank for 6 weeks till I arrive in Grand Rapids.  I started to ride with 3 newbies Clarence Vander Vies, Alice Brink and Bonita and 4 veterans Jane Brouwer, Rich and Carol Rienstra and Joan Doornspleet. We started out with a slight drizzle which was unusual for this area but we were thankful.  The sky remained overcast for a large part of the morning, but I still got lots of sun. The ride along the Santa Anna bike trail was great.  We were on it for over 50 miles.  It is amazing to know we biked in relative calm and quiet though areas that is heavily populated and expressways are jammed. We also saw many people living under the bridges that the bike path ran under.
As the bike ride continued I rode with Ross Lootsma, Jake Kuipers, Roland Ratimeyer Adrian Kloet and Jim Beezhold.  Jim is 77 and is a very strong rider that I had trouble keeping up with. He is a great cyclist.
I will be staying with Scott and Kristin tonight and think this will be my last comfortable bed and air conditioned accommodation till I arrive in Grand Rapids on August 3.  If people along the route offer billets/hosting opportunities I will gladly sign up.  I am not a die hard camper that wants to sleep in a tent on a therma rest and in sleeping bag.  I prefer other sleeping accommodations but will do this when I have too. 
We had a great refreshment stop at Hope CRC in Riverside at mile 46. they provided us with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and dip, great trail mix, coffee and lemonade. Thank you Hope CRC.  When we were there Randy DeWolde arrived and as he got off his bike his left peddle came off the crank shaft. A miracle that it do not happen on the rode. There was a Volunteer at the stop who could take Randy and his bike to a bike shop. 

Kitchen staff continue to be challenged by the equipment in the kitchen that is not cooperating.  They are doing a super job getting us fed even when equipment malfunctions and provide great meals. 

One of the cyclist Mark Deckinga did have a major accident. He broke his leg and needs to have a rod inserted.  A major disappointment for him and his wife Susan as they were planning to ride several weeks of the Sea to Sea together.  She reported to the peleton meeting that within 4 minutes of the accident a person who lives in the area was able to provide the exact location where she was located on the Santa Anna Bike path to the ambulance drivers. She also told us how a cyclist "Ava Baker who is a doctor came on the scene to provide addition support and help while waiting for the ambulance. Susan was able to share how she experienced God's presence numerous times today and know she and Mark are being prayed and cared for by many people.
We continued to be amazed by God moments through out the day and know if we keep looking and seeking God he will be evident to us.

myself, Jody Datema, Katie an Kristin. 

We had lots of visitors to the campsite.  Scott and Kristin and Katie came to visit as well as Jodie Datema.  Jen Van Beek tour assistant in 2008 also came to visit and got to say hi to cyclists from 2008.  It is was a joy to have people come to visit to say hi and check out how things are operating.

Camp stats  9 flat tires, and 2 accidents.
Ride stats.
Distance74.65 mi

Duration5h:39m:02s

Avg. Speed13.2 mph

Max. Speed40.3 mph

Calories3788 kcal

Min. Altitude28 ft

Max. Altitude1603 ft

Total Ascent1629 ft

Total Descent302 ft

Cadence58 rpm

WeatherCloudy