It turns out to be a fabulous ride, through vineyards heavy with black grapes, a gruelling hill through ranches which have not seen rain for ages with peppercorn trees giving a little shade.
A fabulous whizz down the other side past hundreds of wind turbines, then flat plains of farms growing everything we have seen in Spain; walnuts, almonds, tomatoes, grapefruit and olive groves.
Also real cowboy country straight out of the movies.
Thomas cycles out to meet us and we camp on their lawn in Modesto. Ann and Thomas take us to their favourite restaurant for some of the best seafood yet and next morning sort us out a hire car from the local airport (the only place open on a Sunday) for our side trip to Yosemite.
Tour miles to date: 1,775
Location:Pleasanton to Modesto
