51 miles; a new variation on an already hilly ride. Rode with our friends up Oak Hill, through Harvard and into Bolton, where we went up a hill I haven't done in about 5 years. Last time I took a group up this road I had 2 men say that they wanted to kill me .
From there, we proceeded into Berlin and up a very steep hill, where there was an orchard at the top. We spotted their porta-potty, bought a peach, and ate our sandwiches at their picnic tables. Then, we went down a bit, through some unusual looking areas, and into Hudson, where I used to teach. We turned off on a road that would take us back to our usual route, but, surprise, there was a 20% grade in one spot, with several other steep, short rises along the way. I actually felt really good today, despite allergy stuff since I got over my sinus infection. For some reason, I always feel better when I do a harder ride on my Guru. I don't know if it's the titanium, the geometry, or the 2 extra granny cogs. Maybe it's in my head.
We split off from our friends, and went back a different way, so we could get our 50 miles. We stopped and had coffee and split a blueberry muffin in Concord center, as I was feeling sleepy. It was just mobbed there, both with cyclists and tourists. A man (who was sitting with his wife and a tiny dog... she was on her phone the whole time we were there), asked me how far we had gone when DH was buying the coffee. He almost fainted when I told him.
Well, I guess we seem like freaks to most people. A very good day. I will get my 2,000 miles tomorrow.