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We moved on to Sacramento and stayed a couple of nights. We hadn't really planned to stop here but were so behind with our website and e mails we had to find somewhere with a fast wi-fi to upload all the photos Peter has taken.
The old part of Sacramento is actually a very small western town but the rest of it is now quite a modern attractive California city with plenty of greenery and attractive shopping areas. Right behind the campsite there was a cycle/jogging/walking path along the American river that runs for about 30 miles right out of the centre. We took a cycle ride round trip of 40 miles and the heat was exhausting it was about 40 degrees out on the path and we have never cycled in anything so hot and dry. You didn't have sweat on your body it simply dried up but you needed gallons of water. On the way back peter was speeding ahead of me but as I rounded a sharp bend I noticed there was a guy on the floor on his own who had fallen off his bike. He was lying on his side in the dirt and scrub trying to disentangle his legs from his peddles. I jumped off and rant over to him and he tried to lift his head up. His helmet was still on but as he lifted his head I culd see blood was gushing from under his helmet. I spoke to him but he was totally confused and disorientated. peter arrived back and together we sat him up and Peter pressed a tissue to his head and removed his helmet which was all bashed in over at the front. He had a big cut over his eye but luckily his helmet must have taken the brunt of it. A guy in a passing vehicle with a phone stopped and phoned 911 and some workmen had a first aid kit in their truck and put a cold compress to his head. Eventually his mate who was with him but had been riding way in front reappeared and told us the guys name was Jimmy. The guy looked about 70 and we estimated Jimmy as being in his mid 60's. A fire engine arrived and 3 burly firemen jumped out with all sorts of apparatus to fix on to Jimmy with printed read outs. they asked him his date of birth and it turned out he was 58 and what we thought was his mate was actually his Dad who accordingly could easily have been a lycra clad 78!!! The ambulance men put him in a neck brace and on a stretcher and we left just as the ambulance arrived.
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