Okay, I will start with my STP tale....

Woke up around 2:30 am (actually, I didn't sleep well, so I was already awake when alarm went off). We packed up and made it to the start line at around 4:10 am. Got everything unpacked and hit the bathroom line and then hit the road at 4:40 am. It was still a bit dark, so we took it slow, but it was really nice not dealing with the crowds we usually encounter when we left later. First part of the ride was great, saw the skateboard dude in Seward Park, I can't believe he skateboards all the way to Portland and he does it with a smile.

There was a really bad railroad crossing around mile 70, we went over slow, but both DH and I felt our rear wheel slip, we were both lucky we didn't go down. They really should have carpeted that track. After the track, I slowed down to about 16 mph and couldn't keep up with our group. I thought I may have had a flat, so I stopped to check my tire. No flat, but I lifted my rear wheel and tried to spin it and it was stuck. Apparently when I went over the track, my rear wheel somehow bump the brake caliber out of alignment so the pad was dragging on the wheel. My boys came back for me a few minutes later and fixed the problem, but problem started up again on the Tenino trail. Don't know how long I was riding on the trail with the brake pad hanging up, but I was definitely wearing me out. At the ministop on the trail we met a couple of DH's old high school buddies he hadn't seen in 13 years. What a small world!!!

Made it into Centralia around 10:30 and had lunch. I was really bummed they didn't have the pulled pork sandwiches this year, so got a burger instead which sat in my stomach like a gut bomb. Big mistake!

Head winds were pretty brutal and I hit the wall around mile marker 140 and was starting to realize I had missed a few spots with the Glide, so crotch was burning (I know TMI). We took some extra time at the Riverside rest stop so I could recover and refuel. The Longview bridge was much better this year, but DH got a flat at the top. Luckily he was able to pump the tire up so we could make it to the bottom where we could change it. STP support motorcycle with a side car stopped to help us. They had a cute boxer sitting in the side car, wish I had brought my camera.

We slowed pace down a bit on Hwy 30 as we were all getting tired. Saint Helens rest stop was set up much better this year and we got a iced cold coke which really hit the spot. They also had misters and ice, which was really nice. By this point the pain in my shorts was so bad it was actually making my queasy. I was trying to stand to relive the pain, but nothing was really helping. I knew the only way to stop the pain was to get to Portland and get off my bike. The last 30 miles is always brutal, but we pulled into the finish line at about 6:30. Definitely not our fastest one-day, but considering the wind, not too bad. The beer garden was nice and getting off my bike brought instant relief for the pain. One of our riding buddies wife met us at the finish line and we went for a late dinner at a place near the finish. Finished dinner around 10:40 and was surprised to still see riders coming in. It was really nice to stay the night this year as we usually jump on the bus and head back the same day. On Sunday we were able to have a nice breakfast and go back to the Finish line to cheer the two-day riders on. All in all pretty good ride. This was my seventh STP and 4th in one-day.