The Road to Sacramento

Day Two
Today's distance: 97.5 miles
Time on saddle: 7.49hrs
Overall distance covered: 167.5 miles

Had a great sleep last night, before I came on this trip I hadn't been sleeping well, cycling across America is the cure...not sure it's good for everyone but it works for me. I was chased by my first dog today, it was massive. Luckily it was behind a fence, but it chased me for about half a mile along the fence. It had a key on its collar, I was a bit worried when we came to a gate....it couldn't open it though...not that clever are they.
I went through some lovely countryside today. The Napa valley is famous for its vineyards, miles and miles of them...impressive. As I past Winter, a lovely town near to Sacramento I went into an Irish pub...they get everywhere don't they. My water was running low and it was probably an excuse to get out of the sun. I fancied a Guinness but when I saw that they had cold lager it was too much to resist. I only had the one, but it was lovely. Have you ever seen that war film starring John Miles. A group of service men and one woman, Sylia Simms, drive a lorry across the desert to Alexander. When they get there, four lagers are put on the bar. It's a great scene where John Miles drinks the cold lager and the look of pleasure on his face says it all. That was me today, although I'm probably more like Sylvia Simms than John Miles, especially in my Lycra...I don't care. The lady who owned the pub asked me what I was doing , and what it was for. She very kindly gave me twenty dollars as a donation, brilliant..the lager was fantastic too. Another kind person I've met on my travels, there are millions of them.
I had my usual daily embarrassing moment. I crossed a bridge and not really knowing which way to go I asked the only person I had seen for miles, a black girl of about eighteen. She asked me where I was from and where I was going. I told her that I wanted to go to Sacramento but intended to carry on my ride to New York. She was amazed and put her hand in the air. I looked round I thought she was waving to someone. When I turned back to face her the hand was still raised. It dawned on me that she wanted a 'high five'. I slapped her hand with mine with as much gusto as I could muster and I even heard myself saying Yo! It doesn't quite work with an Orford accent. I bumped into four guys and a girl, all medical students traveling to Minnesota. There was also a young girl who was cycling to Davis, a town about twenty miles away, she was struggling. She had planned to travel to New york with her friend, who she was meeting in Davis...She might not make it...but then again I might not?
I got in touch with John, Sarah's ex-boyfriends, he sounds very nice and I am meeting him tomorrow at 9.00am. He said the local channel are very interested in my story and want to do an item...sounds good.
It's a pain not being able to ride on the freeway, but at least the scenery is beautiful. It's just that it is sometimes difficult to work out where the road are going. Get a map I hear you say....done it, in fact I've got two. It's a fact that women are poor when it comes to map reading, apparently it has something to do with the part of the brain that does that type of stuff...very academically put I think...not. I'm thinking of changing my name to Brenda because I can't read a map either...and before you guys say anything...yes I did have the map the right way up.
I stopped at a cafe for something to eat about lunchtime...obviously. I asked for a cup of tea, which I've not had since I was in England. For anyone who doesn't know me I am Mr tea belly. I never say no to nice cup of tea...this wasn't very nice. It had a peculiar perfume taste to it...and it was a regular tea bag. Won't be having another one until I get home...put the kettle on Phil.