haha...I loved your story! I am so jealous of your animal sitings and silly photographers!!!

I spent numerous rides watching people ride off in the distance...but the distance gets less and less! If you enjoy the company and challenge then keep it up!!! I found that there is always someone who is doing a "recovery" ride and would stay with me or just feel obligated to make sure I made it...I hope your group has the same! I am still not in the lead group but I can put a hurtin' (in a fun way) on some people who used to leave me in the dust!

With all that said...Bleeker type rides are always fun too!!!