[Glad to hear that your ride lifted your spirits a bit, makbike. Hang in there!]

I had *the* great pleasure today of meeting IFJane for the first time AND sharing a beautiful 27.5 mile ride on the backroads of Madison County. Perfect from start to finish!

Jane gamely rode at my speed (12 mph av---not exactly burnin' up the road, LOL!), while her fiance Michael, and two of their buddies joined us on and off for much of the route. (The guys reminded me of my border collie Samantha....Zipping ahead, circling back to check on the 'sheep'.....Zipping ahead, circling back....You get the idea, LOL!)

Besides the sheer fun of riding with Jane & Company, their enthusiasm and encouragement nudged me to score not merely one, but TWO, personal bests today! Longest ride to date: 27.5 miles; fastest max speed: 29.5mph......Yeehaw!!

We started out at a good clip that worried me a little, but once my legs warmed up (Mile 10? ), I settled in and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Jane picked the flattest route that Madison has to offer---not easy given that the Blue Ridge Mountains loom in the near distance. The only serious incline on the route leads to the hilltop town of Haywood, formerly named---appropriately---Heaven!!

The whole ride was picture-postcard pretty, but Geonz, Quaker Run Road is GORGEOUS! You are lucky to have a family haunt there!...Jane and I turned back just where Quaker Run begins a serious climb; a future goal will be to make it up that incline to the top, or at least until the pavement runs out...

All in all, a fabulous way to spend a couple of hours on a beautiful, blue-blue-blue-skied February afternoon! I'm grateful to Jane (Michael, Guy and Bates, too) for inviting me to join them. Lookin' forward to many more rides in the future!!