Since 1971, this date is celebrated in the U.S. as Women's Equality Day, marking the day in 1920 when the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment gave women the vote. The day was designated by Congress in 1973. In fact, the amendment says, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." So, 105 years later, it protects all sexes, not just men and women. Way to show foresight, Carrie Chapman Catt! She succeeded Susan B. Anthony as the President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1920. And Catt organized the "Winning Plan" that helped secure passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Of course, we in the U.S. still can't claim to offer equality to all of our residents. And progress we've made has encountered setbacks lately. I hope soon we will get back to becoming a more perfect union. Credit: https://w.wiki/F96E Today the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club's A and B rides started from Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey. Normally, I try not to drive that far for the start of a ride, but last night I was camped at Sunset State Beach, so I was already one-fifth of the way from Santa Cruz to Monterey. That's my excuse, anyway. I arrived at the start about 30 minutes early, having fought through the usual slow traffic on US1 getting to Monterey. When I arrived, a recumbent rider whose name I didn't catch said he is with the Santa Cruz club, but he's slow, so he starts one-half hour early. Good planning. I joined the B ride, which consisted of seven riders on e-bikes and new acquaintance Julie and me on old-fashioned mechanical bikes. I thought we rolled out at 10 am with the e-bikes, but they told me later we rolled with the A riders, who rode the same route, but with the addition of an out-and-back up to Jack's Peak. After riding with Julie for a bit, I sped up a bit. (Sorry, Julie!) For the rest of the ride, I didn't see any of the other Santa Cruz riders. It's not a very hard route, but almost all of the climbing is in the last third, so I felt it. I was going slow up Huckleberry Hill! I finished about 12:30, and found the recumbent rider just finished, so we traded notes. About 30 minutes later the e-bikes finished, and we chatted for a bit. A short, but challenging ride to set me up for four days of rest before the Tour de Fuzz Metric Century in Santa Rosa this Saturday.