I haven't done a longer/more difficult ride in a while. Recently, I've done short and/or slow rides, and they've been sporadic. Last week was a 10 mile race ride but it didn't feel long enough to settle in.

So, today my husband and I went for a local ride. We live in a hilly area and I was immediately up in my HR in the 180s. Didn't help that my husband took off like a bat at mile 2 or 3 for his "warm up" - we exchanged some good natured discussion of what a warm up is. He hadn't ridden for even longer so I imagine it was part out of joy to be on the bike. But I did recover and we settled down to a more maintainable pace.

Weather was perfect - sunny, dry, upper 70s, and the trees are already turning here since it's been a dry late summer. It was beautiful out, but I didn't feel like stopping for photos anywhere, I just wanted to ride.

Eventually I settled in after our first bigger uphills, and we toured some of our usual areas around Hollis NH. Noticed some people swimming at the state park which is closed, and I've been wondering if I could swim there myself before it gets too cold again. I don't know. It is only 7 miles from the house by the way we went so next summer I could easily ride up there.

Saw several other road riders out but fewer than I would have expected, on such a beautiful day. Maybe they all went to do the Seacoast Century.

We rode back down from Amherst and my husband decided he was done but I wanted to keep going. So, I dropped him off at the house and did another 12 or so miles for a total of 37. I enjoyed both riding with him and riding a bit on my own.

More days with this weather would be fine by me!