I set out to explore a new route and to test my legs. I took Monday-Wednesday off in hopes of allowing them to recover from the 240 miles I had riden the previous week. My rides on Thursday and Friday did not go as I had hoped - my legs were still very tired. I could not maintain my normal speeds. I decided today to try this new route and see how my legs felt. Right out of the starting gate they were saying good things to me and I quickly fell into a very smooth rhythm - I was having the time of my life - new roads, beautiful weather (70's, slight breeze, clear skies), the birds were singing, I was singing all was good. At about the 25 mile mark in my 38 miles my cell phone rings - it is my mom. She wants to know what I'm doing. I tell her I'm on my bike. I can tell she is quite excited about something - she tells me she has some very good news for me. "What?" I ask - seems I won third place in a my niece's softball raffle. I am now $400 richer. Not a bad return for $5. I am just so excited I'm about to pop. Sadly $100 of that money will go to replacing the brake light on my car. BF and I broke it last night while we were trying to move an old washing machine out to his truck. However, the other $300 is going in my savings account. So my good ride turned into a great ride for the remaining 13 miles had me singing and smiling. Life is good, so good.