August 12 rides

Went on a 32 mile club ride, in an area where I have never done a ride. Well, I recognized one street from our Mass Bike tour last summer, but since it was pouring rain that day, don't remember much. DH is on vacation this week, so he came with me. We started in Southboro, and went through Ashland, Hopkington, Upton, and maybe more? The ride was very rural and hilly, which is unusual for this group. Our snack stop was at a farm store in Upton, where they opened especially for us (they are usually closed on Wednesdays). I didn't eat the ice cream there, but did enjoy the view, while eating my Shot Blocks. Today was cool, but about 75% humidity. My sunglasses fogged up so badly, I had to take them off for about 3/4 of the ride. Apparently, I have been told this is because I sweat so much. Can't help that, as I absolutely hate humidity, so even though it was only about 71 out and cloudy, I was drenched. We passed a llama farm on the way back, along with several unusual looking cows.
As usual, I can drop almost everyone in this group on a climb, but my fear of descending really holds me back on the downhills. It is getting on my nerves at this point. But, I always catch up on the flats, too.
After the ride, we had a pot luck lunch at the leader's house. An astonishing variety of foods, mostly healthy, too. After 3 years, people are pretty friendly to me, even though I don't go every week. I am in awe of some of these riders.... many are older than me and do incredible riding, touring, climbing, traveling, etc. Also, we met a few of the couples in the group. I have never been able to put together who goes with who.
It's restaurant week in greater Boston, so we are going out to a new place in Cambridge tonight. The deal is you get a 3 course dinner for 33.00. We have tried a lot of new places this way.

All that biking leads to less guilt when enjoying the 3 course dinner. ;)

I only commuted to and from work. No time for much more. Very busy day and evening. It was a lovely ride, tho. Birds waking up and singing to me the whole way to work. :p Gotta love those great morning rides- even if they are really short. :)

here's my report: linkhttp://janalingo.blogspot.com/2009/0...vancouver.html
I've also started a thread on my vacation on the "adventure stories" section