This was the year of doing Loop 1 two times, since rain washed out loop2. I learned that as I went to registration on Friday night in Hemet. Ugh. I would not be able to ride Sage or go to Temecula. Oh well. Disappointment as the lady explained what happened. So off to the Days Inn in Hemet! UGHHH that was even worse. My first clue was the low price from Hotels.com and my decision at the time to pay at the hotel. In trying to find the hotel, there was no light on the sign. Warning 1. The way the GPS took me there was to a blocked off drive. Warning 2. Then the sign on the window to use the little baby sized night window. He could not get the charge to pay. That went on for about 10 minutes until he said it refused to work and it might take another 30 minutes, during which I would not be given a room, but instead to stand outside. It was getting late. I called Hotel.com and after a few robo menus got the systems are not working. So I believe the issue was with Hotel.com and not the hotel. the hotel guy and I talked about me just paying again with credit card. So he took my card through the slot. THen finally after about 35 minutes he said the transfer from Hotel.com went through and that he did not charge my card. I finally got the key. Warning 4 flickering lights in several places outside of rooms. Then walking to room there were rooms were under various states of disrepair, meaning they were being it look like they were being disambled. This was a big motel of 2 floors. I found my room. THe key worked but inside at first glace it was clean. All the switch plates were off. Magic marker writings on wall and mirror, yet the bed linens looked clean and proper. Bathroom was clean, no mold, and sort of new-ish. The sink counter had words carved into it. So I stayed since it was late and it was time to sleep. I think it was 1015 before I got into the room and close to 11 before settling. Next morning the 4am alarm came early for my 5am start. Dressed and drove in car over to start. Parked on Acacia street and there in front of me pulled in a truck with a bike rack with a black V20 Vendetta! The gal was not really talkative as I tried to chat her up. So back to getting myself ready. Checked out and off I went. I was about 49F at start and decreased to 30F out in fields. My blue woolie base layer, jersey, blue arm warmers, vest, jacket, and light gloves and I was just right. My first rest at ~35 miles, I shed the gloves, jacket. Riding alone so far. Met 2 San Diego Bull Shifters there 1 was named "Young." Very nice. That was the start of several times of hearing cars go by and yelling Bull Shifters or other riders asking about us. Off to Victoria Street! Gorgeous and full of blooms, fragrances and new pavement in the begining. Just before Victoria I sort of was trailing a gal that was riding fast, but let her go as I was enjoying Victoria. Rest stop 2, shed base layer and vest (which I might have already had taken off at stop 1, can't recall). Then finish Temescal Cnyn and on to Stop 3 and there was Jed and the other Bull Shifter. They were interested in hearing about the WVC tragedy. I noticed I was very animated and loud in explaining it. Still so senseless loss of life and pain. Then into lunch. Grabbed turkey sandwich, macaroni salad, potato salad, some chips. No fried chicken. As I was leaving I saw the 2nd V20, which was a gold V20c like mine! In fact per the gal he was the guy that sold his black v20 to her! Tried to talk to him, but he was not any better than the gal., I took a number of pictures of his setup. Out for the 2nd time of doing loop 1. Wamer now and full of lunch and more wind! So a bit slower. Then I began wondering if I would make it around the course before it got dark. I knew I would not. Then wondering if my headlight battery would last! That was a real concern. So around mile 20, 2 guys passed me so I caught them to see if I could hang. Greg and Mike from norcal. Turns out these 2 ride together all the time. Greg is like Mike. He has to be the leader. So I let him lead. Greg and I were about the same in power on the flats, with Mike able to hang on. ON the hills, Greg was the best then me then Mike. We alternated a bit with the blank V20 gal until after Victoria and never saw her again. In fact, no cyclists passed the 3 of us. I did pull a bit to give Greg a break, yet it was clear he really enojyed the lead. Greg devised the goal of getting to mile 200 before it was dark and we did, shortly after sunset. Recall this was 220 mile ride. We pulled into Stop 3 and the volunteer was offering us everything pizza, cup o noodles, snacks, etc. I took the noodles. There I put the vest, arm warmers and my beanie back on. Turned on my lights for the last 18 miles home. But Greg and Mike had such strong tail lights that I could not easily ride behind them. I told them that I would fall back and to not worry about me. Then they made it through a couple of stop lights that I missed so they were ahead and I last them approaching the turn onto Heritage Lake Park after Stop 3 I really enjoyed that last part of cycling alone as my lights could easily work better and i was not fighting their lights. Then about 2 miles from the turn to Sanderson, they caught me! Huh. how did that happen? Turns out they were waiting for me somewhere but not on the course. So they saw me turn on the correct place and could not catch me. We talked and somehow we are still confused on how this happened. Anyway it was a great 2nd loop. I was very glad to have met Greg and Mike as they gave me the mental toughness I needed to finish when we did. There were many riders behind us because when we left lunch, the room was pretty full. So many riders were out late into the night. There were ~95 cyclists and 2 were V20! How about that. Road surfaces were all good, except Temescal canyon had some bad spots. Some shoulders were dirty, 1 spot on Temescal had water running over it that we rode through. My stopped time was 1 hr in loop and and anther 1 hr in loop2. With another 35 minutes at lunch. Mike/Greg pointed out that they were only 3-6 minutes slower in loop 2 than 1, yet I thought I was slower in 2 by more. I have to look at that more. Met Steve Meichtry at Stop 2 the guy that has the most doubles of 190ish.