July 26 Rides

[margo49]

Huge explosion just as I was getting up. Followed by about 10 more regular ones. Called the whole thing off but the SO said not to be so silly and to go south. So (obedient that I am ) ...

Pulled myself together and got out a couple of hours later. Saw a baby mongoose who was so interested in me he seemed not to want to take cover.(All babies love me). Then a flight of finches in formation; which was even more amazing because I had startled them.
Had an expensive ice cream at the 1/2 way point by the border before tootling thru the banana plantations and mango groves to pick up the border for another km or so
(margo49 you will cause a Diplomatic Incident one day and TE will have to send envoys to get you and the bike out -or in, as the case may be).
Then out to the road head and back home to sign permission for DS's Plastic Surgery .

So when you-all watch the TV and see "things" just remember that your margo49 is living in the same place but riding in a parallel universe where there is a curious baby mongoose and a boy with his first credit card .

[spokewench]

Well, I'm a lucky girl. I get Wednesdays off so I took a girlfriend and her boyfriend out for a ride on our easy county park trails. It has been raining a little lately so our trails are perfect, not too dusty, kind of sticky, not slippery with dry silt Yahoo! We went for a couple of hours and had a blast.

Didn't see any deer today. Usually do on that trail, but it was probably the wrong time of the day. Now, I'm off to unload my groceries, do the laundry, vacuum and cook dinner. Well, it's not all fun and games!

[Kano]

Tater -- I bet the commute home tonight felt pretty good, it being a mere 99 degrees outside and all!

Margo, indeed, ride the other direction from the noises as fast as possible! I can't say I blame you for wanting to stay under the covers, though...

DDH -- good for you! I'm envious of your ten miles (and that's a pretty awesome third day ride if you ask me!) since I'm hanging around at the house since noon (had work to tend to this morning that kept me indoors part of the day, then the bank, with a nifty jaunt to the bike shop) waiting for the sprinkler system repair guy. Figured I'd get an evening ride, but since he's not here yet, that's looking less and less likely, and I sure hope they don't think we're going to pay extra for a scheduled visit that he showed up this late for, and oh, sorry ladies, didn't mean to start ranting! We won't go into DH went out for the evening and left me to keep waiting...

I NEED a ride to post about, darn it!

Karen in Boise

[salsabike]

Huge explosion just as I was getting up. Followed by about 10 more regular ones. Called the whole thing off but the SO said not to be so silly and to go south. So (obedient that I am ) ...

Pulled myself together and got out a couple of hours later. Saw a baby mongoose who was so interested in me he seemed not to want to take cover.(All babies love me). Then a flight of finches in formation; which was even more amazing because I had startled them.
Had an expensive ice cream at the 1/2 way point by the border before tootling thru the banana plantations and mango groves to pick up the border for another km or so
(margo49 you will cause a Diplomatic Incident one day and TE will have to send envoys to get you and the bike out -or in, as the case may be).
Then out to the road head and back home to sign permission for DS's Plastic Surgery .

So when you-all watch the TV and see "things" just remember that your margo49 is living in the same place but riding in a parallel universe where there is a curious baby mongoose and a boy with his first credit card .

Margo, I can't figure out whether your fauna and flora and scenery are just absolutely fascinating by themselves, or whether it's your poetic writing style---so, both, I expect. Either way, I love envisioning your rides as I read about them. No ride for me till Friday.

[SadieKate]

Sigh, Bubba just called. His car thermometer says it is 107. Guess we're not riding.

[im4smiley]

I decided this morning I would try to do my 50 mile trip goal. I wanted to get up early but slept till 7 am, however, I was out the door by 7:45. I decided on a pretty flat route and told myself not to push too hard, I was afraid I would get too tired and then have to cut my route short. I went through many towns, Turners Falls, Montague, Sunderland, South Deerfield, Hatfield, Northampton and Greenfield. It was about 75 degrees and I had 2 water bottles, one with water and one with a drink mix I hadn't tried before. Well I should have tried it out because I don't think I mixed it right and it didn't taste too good. Of course when I started on that bottle my water was gone. I forced myself to drink the "yucky" stuff because I knew I should drink something. When I got to the 30 mile mark I was feeling kind of tired so I stopped and stretched a bit and had a GU. About the 40 mile mark I stopped at my LBS and got some water so I could continue on. I made my goal, I did 50.2 miles. I am soo happy.

[SandyLS]

"I made my goal, I did 50.2 miles. I am soo happy"

Congratulations, Smiley. nice job on reaching your goal! Keep up the good work.

[tulip]

Congratulations, Smiley! 50 miles, wow! On a school day, no less!

My evening commute took me to another destination, as I teach a class at a local university after work once per week, and tonight was the last night and the students presented their projects. It was very nice to see how much progress they have made (adult students, changing careers). I usually Metro on class days, but today I rode my bike. I had to Metro home with the bike since it got dark on me, and I haven't put my headlight on yet. This weekend I will.

[emily_in_nc]

~10+ miles of double track with a friend - my inaugural ride on my Titus Racer-X (which I need a computer on and soon!) Oh man, she is a wonderful bike. The full suspension was a dream, the shifting was amazing, and I was completely comfortable the entire time. The trails snaked through the prettiest shady woods, keeping the heat at bay, and I just couldn't get enough of the scenery or the ride. My best mountain bike ride to date!

Emily