4th of July Rides

[luvs2ride]

DH and I went riding around our house. It's a 20 mile loop that we do a lot. We started around 8 am to beat the heat (it's over 100 today !!!!). As we were going up Mt. Baldy Road from Mills we saw some guys in a truck with mountain bikes in the back pulled over and looking at something in the bushes. We didn't stop but we were going to slow enough (as it's a steep uphill at this point) to see the cutest little black bear !!! Maybe he/she was trying to beat the heat too! Anyway, we kept riding and about 5 minutes or so later, pulled over to fix a flat on my bike. Well wouldn't you know that this was the time the mountain bike guys started honking their horn at the bear. All we could think of was the bear running up to where we were, etc. I have to say that that was the quickest tire I've ever seen DH change !! We were off uphill to the turn off towards Euclid Avenue to finish the rest of our ride without incident. Where is a camera when you really need one !?! Watch out Jiffers and Fredwina as I know you frequent this road a lot yourselves!!
Happy 4th to all !

Blessings!
Susan

[Triskeliongirl]

DH and I joined our LBC for a special 4th of July ride in Fredericksburg, a quaint old German town in the texas hill country. Last night storms were predicted, so we were sure it was going to be cancelled, but at 6am things looked good so we headed out (bit of a drive). We started with a really nice ride at 8:30, I did the 38 and DH the 50 so we could get back at the same time. A couple that just had a baby couldn't decide who would get to ride and who would have to babysit, so they decided to share the ride and run a rest stop since it was so rural there were no convenience stores to get water at. She rode the first 25 miles, and then relieved him at the rest stop, well stocked with hydration and snacks. In fact, she even ended up loaning her wheel to a gal with a bad tire failure. Another cycling spouse took the older children of the other riding couples to the parade, so they could ride together instead of having to switch off to babysit. Then we all met at a restaurant for a really nice lunch afterwards, joined by some of the non-cycling family members. We did get rained on during the final 2 miles, but all in all a fun day was had by all! It was nice to ride in a different place, and the route that was selected was incredibly pretty and traffic free. I should have taken a camera to share!