I rode from home today, with my brand new map I made with my color copier-showing every little tiny road that I could ever hope to reach in a reasonable time from home. So I could go out and go somewhere and be able to evaluate my options and make route changes. It was so cool! I rode seven miles west on my road, in the sun, in a headwind, then eight miles north, in a headwind, with no shade (fields) then five miles west, in the blazing sun, with a headwind, then six miles south, in the sun, through pines, past cactus that I should have been picking for the tort babies. Stopped for lunch under some pines on a hill on the east side of the street, then 12 miles back east on my road with patchy shade with a tailwind. I went by some dairy farms. It was pretty funny, and I should have stopped to get a picture. The pastures have giant live oaks in them, and all the Holstein ladies were crowded under the trees, laying in the shade in a big cow pile. Then across the street, same thing with calves. My ride was cut short due to an emergency call from a friend- have to go pet sit because, well, whatever. I have found two live love bugs buried in my clothing since I got home. I also had one fly into my mouth again, and it made me gag again, even after it was out! They taste so bad!!! No wonder nothing eats them. I listened to this podcast about riding in hot weather, and how you are supposed to ride in the heat of the day at least twice a week if you expect to be able to race in it. I feel pretty good in the mid-upper 80's as long as I don't stop- then I start sweating. But right now, riding 19 mph, at almost 90F, I don't feel like I'm sweating at all. Oh, the guy on the podcast also said we are genetically programmed to either do well in heat, or do well in cold. I for sure know which I am!! I am miserable when I am cold- I feel like I can't even move.

Nanci