This was my second try - well, third if you count the one I did twenty years ago. Finished when I did it 20 years ago, tried again last year and did 125 miles before I had to stop for various physical reasons. Finished it this year! Woo hoo!

This year rode with two others, and we all three finished. Boy, you aren't kidding Susan when you say the last 25 miles are the worst! Actually, the last three miles were the longest three miles I've ever ridden. LOL. And that bridge was scary!

We stopped at the Safeway in Spanaway for lunch, and while they didn't have the same sandwich deal going on when we got there, it was still way faster than waiting in line at the rest stop and having a real bathroom instead of a honeybucket was a real 'treat'.

The support was fabulous! My friend hurt her knee but was determined to finish. One of the support cars 'hop scotched' us the last 30 miles to make sure we all got in safely. (They stopped to make sure we were okay, then drove down the road another 5 or 10 miles or so and waited for us again.) We were very close to being the last ones in (arrived 8:30 pm) and there were still volunteers at the finish line to cheer us in, and Cascade held the baggage claim open for us so we could get our bags. (They were supposed to close at 7 and anything left over went back to Cascade in Seattle and you had to pick it up there).

The people of Portland are awsome. Drivers honking and waving and cheering us on. People on the sidewalks cheering us in. One lady stopped me as we went in to get our bags and gave me a congratulatory hug.

Not sure I have the courage to do what Susan did and ride in one day, though. I don't think this body could take it without more training than I have time for. LOL.

Congrats to all the riders this weekend!