July 9-10 rides

[Crankin]

Just got back from 4 days/3 rides in the Berkshires.
Day 1: Got there at noon, went to Lee and ate lunch. Drove to the inn in Gt. Barrington, checked in, and went for a lovely 15 mile warm up ride. This is the only flat ride you'll see in the Berkshires. It was hot, though, 89.7 degrees registered on DH's Garmin. Sat by the pool and then off to Mexican food, with 2 pitchers of sangria (don't worry, our friends were on the trip with us).
Day 2: This was our longest day. We had a 40 mile ride planned, with a trip up Lenox Mountain. I've done this climb once before, it's not bad. We studiously checked the weather before, radar, etc. It was cloudy, with bad storms going both south and north of us. The first part of the ride looked like it had rained there already. All familiar roads, with a lunch stop in Stockbridge. So, with 3 miles left, it began sprinkling. Within minutes, it was a deluge, with thunder and lightning. I was scared out of my mind. There was no place to take shelter. Brant told us he was "booking it" to the inn, and Janine was about 2 miles behind us, with a cue sheet. DH and I stayed together and he slowed for me, since my handling skills in rain, well, have not been tested. It was absolutely the longest 3 miles of my life. The innkeeper had towels ready for us when we got back and newspaper for our shoes. Janine was pissed her DH didn't help her... and we agreed. We told him he needs to ride at her speed on these rides. We don't really care; it's a "tour." Well, there were a few tense moments, but everyone calmed down and the rain stopped and we went out for beer and apps in Gt. Barrington. Then back to rest, change and off to Lenox for Italian. Can you see a theme here? Ride and eat.
Day 3: We planned to start from the boat ramp at Lake Buel, ride to Stockbridge in a round a bout way, get sandwiches to take with us and head to Lee and take a different way from Tyringham to Monterey. Well, we usually go over what we call the Tyringham wall. It's about 3/4-1 mile of steep climbs, with some rest in between, down into Monterey. This time, Brant had us go another road. We turned to the right, and I thought I would die, seeing the climb ahead. I yelled out that I was going to kill him, but I made up my mind I would not get off of my bike. My allergies and asthma were already bothering me. The first part was the worst. It had to have been a 20% grade. I felt nauseous for the first time on a ride, dizzy, but I got up it, when DH told me to slow it down (I was going 6.5), and I crawled up the rest at about 5 mph. All in all, it was 2 miles, with a 13% average grade. Janine walked up the first part, but was able to get back on and do OK. Another couple was riding up it, too, and the guy just flew by us, on a bike with a double. He was standing... ouch. My knee is hurting me from this climb. We got to Monterey, ate our lunches and did another 5-7 miles of climbing/rollers and then it was all downhill. 37 miles, 2200 feet of climbing.
Today we ate breakfast, drove to Northampton, walked around the shops and ate lunch in Amherst.
A great trip.