by Randy Vail
Of all the obscure country roads in California, Butano Cutoff, connecting Pescadero Creek Road to Cloverdale Road, is certainly one. This year it was part of the route of one the biggest races in the country, the Amgen Tour of California, a world class bike race featuring elite riders from across the globe, among them seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. Butano Cutoff Road was already famous however, due to the fact it is also the home of Pescadero High & Middle Schools. This convergence was manifested on Tuesday, May 18th when the entire student population turned out to cheer on the riders as they made their way from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, going by our school along the scenic Butano Cutoff Road.
Equipped with cowbells, signs, and exuberant teen enthusiasm, the students got to experience the rolling bicycle parade that is the Tour of California. About the time a helicopter was sighted to the east over Pescadero Creek road, an impressive regiment of CHP motorcycles followed by CHP cars, all with sirens blaring, zoomed past the school. Then came the entourage of cars, a lead group of cyclists, and yet more cars - featuring thousands of dollars worth of bike racks. Finally, the main cluster of dozens of cyclists, including Lance and his Radio Shack team, whizzed by, again followed by the armada of support vehicles. It was a truly exciting event for students and staff, and we hope it becomes an annual event. To find out more about the Tour of California and Pescadero High & Middle Schools, check out: http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/ and http://www.lhpusd.net/ The lead bikers as they come through La Honda