Three of us- Kerin, James, and David (who never misses a Sunday brevet)- showed up for the 7:00 start in Pasadena.  A quick signing of waivers and we were off.  The recently updated CDC guidelines permit outdoor gatherings of groups of vaccinated individuals, so we decided to start and ride together.  What a treat after months of COVID-induced separation.  

The day was overcast and cool which made the climbing easier.  We just kept a steady pace up GMR, chatting away in the fog, and before we knew it we were at the Caltrans maintenance shack.  Then the fun descent down to Camp Williams, where the cafe was actually open after months of being closed due to COVID and the Bobcat fire.  The journey along the East Fork Rd and Highway 39 still has quite a bit of climbing, and we were heading into the wind for most of that stretch.  But once we got to the top of the lower dam we knew there was a nice downhill coming.  The final miles to Pasadena went through the foothills of Monrovia, past many beautiful old homes.  All three of us finished happy and smiling.