Cinderella Dinner

[BikeMomma]

I do not like talking on the cell when I'm with friends, in a restaurant, at the movies, etc.

P.S. I have some wierd news to share with you gals tonight - and need your advice!

Oooohhh, guilty as charged....
Sorry, gals, for checking my messages in the restaurant & for taking that call afterwards....haven't learned proper phone etiquette yet, I guess. I rarely get calls, just make them when I need to. I mainly have it for emergencies.

I missed the weird news....darn.

Anyhoo...I had a blast last night and today. The Cinderella is so much fun!! Everyone's costumes and helmets were awesome, and the course was truly bee-utiful! Those awesome green hills! I kept looking around at two things - those hills and the gorgeous horses in the pastures (I'm a horse freak, too). There was a beautiful grey that was right along the fenceline that looked interested in the bicycles. I swear I almost stopped, but alas, just clucked to him, instead.

Jobob, the pics turned out great! Can you tell I had my mouth full at the time? hehe Just call me "chipmunk".

I only saw two of you during the ride, as I think I left later than everyone (about 8:45-ish...a morning person I am not), and got in about 2:30. Next year, I'm really going to try to leave earlier, to maybe avoid some of the congestion, which sorta slowed me down, along with all the stop lights/signs (grrrr). Once I hit the open road, I was peachy-happy. I found my ideal pace to be faster than most, it seemed, so maybe I could have benefitted from an earlier start? Hmmm, not sure. I found myself tiring of saying "on your left", though. There was a group of about four (from Las Vegas area, one of them said) that I seemed to match pace with, but I lost track of them at the first stop. I did see Spazz getting into a sag van at the last rest stop. Hope you're ok, Spazz. I stopped and almost spoke to get your attention to say hi, but you really looked like you just wanted to go, so I didn't bother you. Were there any others in the van? - couldn't see through the tinted windows. Hi (belated) if so! Sorry I missed y'all. And I saw HillSlug at the finish, but she was too far away to flag down (you looked good!). I looked for the rest of you, but either didn't recognize anyone, or just didn't see ya at all. Bummer.

I saw a few aftermaths of crashes, and one crash happened right in front of me. There was a girl with a "bride" sign and her mother was with her with a "mother of the bride" sign (you might have seen them also). Too cute! Apparently, though, the "bride" was I think trying to pull out of her pedal, lost her balance and fell hard on her hip or tailbone. Anyway, she was in pretty good pain, but after a minute or so, was able to get up and walk to the side of the road. I saw them up the road after the stop and Mom reported that she was doing much better ("sore in the morning"). Her bike seemed ok, just the chain came off the chainring, which I helped put right. Ah, love 'da chain grease! So all seems to have ended well. I and others were quite concerned for her at first. She was really hurting, and even said that she heard a pop sound when she landed (oooh not good).

Flicka (a.k.a. the new bike) was a dream....totally. Flew up the hills, or felt like I did. Awesome. Yesterday's "shake-out" ride to tweak the fit really helped. I felt as comfy at the end as I did when I started. The only thing about the ride is that the rear derailler shifter cables became loose with use (breaking-in blues), so my shifting was rather screwy sometimes.

And I have to rave about the downhill that came right before the lunch stop. Oh goodness - whoa that was fun! I hit 32.5mph along with a couple other gals in front of me. I commented to one that I'm comin' next year just to do that again!! Whoo-hooooooo.

The drive home was smooth as silk, just like the Starbucks I got at the drive-thru at the top of the hill in Livingston (it's conveniently right off the freeway). Couldn't pass that one up, now could I?? I rode hard for that venti nonfat Caffe Mocha! The great part was when I walked in the door when I got home and got mobbed by the kids. They missed me, and I surely did miss them (and my hubby, of course). He gets to hear me babble on (and on, and on) about it for the next week, then gets to hear the babble continue after the Tiera Bella. Lucky him! I think I might get him some earplugs to help him out, 'cause I'm not shutting up anytime soon. ha!

I truly had a great time these last couple days, and I'm already looking forward to next year!! Thanks to all of you for the part you played in my great time!