June 27 rides

[short cut sally]

I woke up rather late at 8:30am, the cat forced me to stay in bed as his hostage. Finally got up, got bike and myself ready, when DH showed up early from work. So , we loaded up both bikes, went downtown (where its much flatter) and rode. We went by this church on the way down thru a town, and I noticed an old single speed bike with the metal baskets on the back, there was something hanging off the front but it was on the opposite side. Way back up, I just had to stop..sign stated "FREE"..no one was at the church so there was a business that i lugged it to who agreed to let me put it by the garage until I could come back with a vehicle. I was so estatic..I 've wanted one of these bikes to put flowers in the baskets and put on my porch. So not only did I get a leisurly ride with DH, but got a prize bicycle too.

[IFjane]

SO and I did a century on the Skyline Drive. 100.41 miles, to be exact. It was HOT (about 90F) and HUMID. We parked at Swift Run Gap, rode south to just past the Loft Mountain rest area, then back through Swift Run Gap to Thornton Gap. Stopped at Big Meadows and Skyland - ate lunch at Skyland. On the return trip we again stopped at Skyland to refill water bottles and got caught by a thunderstorm. Had to wait an hour and a half! Once the storm passed we headed out for the last 25 miles of the trip. I mapped the route last night & we had an elevation gain of 9787 ft.!

Oh yeah - and I almost forgot! The bears in the Shenandoah National Park are waaaaay too tame. We rode past TWO different bears - in two different spots - RIGHT BESIDE THE ROAD! One was so close to me when I came around a turn that I could have touched him! I love seeing them, and they are generally docile, but this is a little too up close and personal. It's clear people have been feeding them. Stupid tourists!