Happy July 4th US!

[nancielle]

What are people's plans for today?

The uncharacteristic quietness on my street for a Tuesday morning is quite nice.

My city has a parade which will be starting in a couple of hours. Forget driving there. All streets in the area will be closed to traffic (except emergency vehicles, natch) so the bike makes more sense. Once the streets are reopened will be heading to a friend's who lives on a lake. If the threatened "scattered thunderstorms" hold off (although it's nice and sunny at the moment) we'll take her boat out.

She even has thoughts of trying -again- to teach me to kayak (painfully humiliating attempt previously.)


Be safe out there.

[KnottedYet]

I've got a morning open water swim planned with a friend who is also doing the Danskin in August, then we're going to the 4th of July BBQ that all my college housemates and their S.O.'s and kids have every year. Last year someone commented that we were all nearly the same age now as our parents were back when we all lived together.

I'm too young to be middle aged!

No fireworks for me, I have to work tomorrow and just can't stay up that late.

[Lise]

I just heard the Declaration of Independence read on NPR. Gives me chills every time.

I'm riding out to my sister's. 9 miles across the west side of Chicago, not a fun ride, but a ride none-the-less! I was going to take the Marin--easier to transport watermelon chunks in the panniers than on my back. But decided to take the Bianchi--my nephew will think it's cool, and impressing the 7 year old is what it's all about in my world! The Timbuk 2 carries everything on my back, and if it's watermelon soup when I get there...that will be a learning opportunity, right?!

We'll watch their small-town middle America parade, and then head back to the house for chow. Looks like perfect weather for the 4th of July.

Have a great Independence Day, my sister Americans!

[margo49]

Last year someone commented that we were all nearly the same age now as our parents were back when we all lived together.

I'm too young to be middle aged!

.

Oh Knotted , do I know that one!

[Nanci]

I'm working till 2:00, then riding my bike somewhere.

[horsemom]

Good morning, Ladies!

My husband and I are taking the dogs for a hike to a remote waterfall near here, then I am running up the gulf on the way home - training for a big 100 mile endurance (horse) ride in CA in Aug. When the hubby and the dogs catch up, we are heading home to work on the stone we are siding our house with. I'd like to get a bike ride in - my new GF Cobia is still at the shop, though. Most likely going to fireworks this evening, but I too, have to work tomorrow.

Happy trails-
Laura

[Brandi]

Happy 4th!!
Well my day is starting out with a ride with my best friend. Then I am coming home to make brownies for our little celebration tonight. Every year my dh and I get our kayaks and meet our best friends ( we have at least 6 best friends,very lucky) in morro bay with thier boats and we all paddle over to this sand spit. We bring blankets,hot coffee and chocolate, maybe a couple desserts. And watch the fire works they set off from the boat launch docks. It is really nice at the sand spit cause the tourist that come to town all hang out at the park by the docks. they don't have boats like us. So it is all locals at the spit. I think last year there were only 5 big groups of people on the three mile long sand spit that seperates the ocean from the estuary. And then by the time you have paddled back to the docks the crowds are gone. It is really cool! And most 4th of july's I am working and don't get to relax so it is nice to be able to spend one at home with the one's I love!

[bikerchick68]

I'm at work today... hoping to sneak out a bit early tho and then go home and rototill a new island flower bed I am creating... have about 30 plants just waiting for homes! Then at some point I will bbq a chicken breast, make some veggies, open a beer and watch the Tour.

[hirakukibou]

I rode with the club today again. I rode over the weekend almost 100 miles, and then another 67 today. The most I've ridden in one day. I have been improving and it is fun. I can actually keep up most of the time and today I even pulled for part of the ride. My skills on hills are improving too. I told the leader that today I want to wear the polka dot jersey. It was a fun day. No other real plans other than to rest.

[Fredwina]

My club had a "show n' go " ride today. Only two of us showed. Warren and I changed our minds halfway through the ride and went up a road in the mountains that is closed to cars (Glendora Mountain Road). Despite it being blazing hot, we both made good time. We had to make little detour for the City Of La Verne's 4th parade. I did a little extra so I could get a metric century in for the day. watched Le tour, too

[LL_Super_D]

Went mountain biking today, and discovered what a clipless wonder I am off road . Fell too many times to count cause I couldn't clip out in time (maybe it's just time to admit I need different pedals). No harm done though! In fact if I wasn't clipped in to my bike as I fell, there was one point where I definitely would have fallen a lot further into the ravine! Off to a bbq and a game of kickball.

[Geonz]

12 of us went on a ride (45 miles), then I went out on the parade route ChampaignCountybikes.org with the blender set up and my piggy helmet. There was a two-person bike wtih mujsical instruments as part of it, a "buddy bike" (tandem with two people next to each other), some amazing bike decorations... and at least soemthing else besides Scot's neat 3-speed that he built... It was neat 'cause there were about 20 riders. We were the very, very last people in the parade (besides the street sweepers). THe smoothies were great at the end.

[im4smiley]

Well I left the family while they were still in bed and headed out to do a group ride and picnic in Vermont. We drove to Putney and then we split into two groups, one doing an old race loop that was 62 miles and my group did a 25 mile trip that really ended up being 35 miles. The first seven miles was a slow steady uphill climb! ugh! We had a nice down hill run to the town of Saxtons River. They were having a town celebration so we walked through town because there were too many people to ride. Then we headed uphill again. I don't remember all the towns but we went through Bellows Falls and ended up back in Putney. I couldn't believe the hills! The heat and humidity made it tough, we were (dare I say this) actually wishing the sprinkles that landed on us would turn to a rain shower! After the ride we went to one of the group members houses and had a nice potluck picnic. I got home around 5pm and now will spend time with the hubby. Our fireworks are next Saturday!

[makbike]

I rode a short century (90 miles) through some very hilly terrain. It was a small group, started out as six riders and quickly dwindled down to three. There were only two store stops along the way and boy did I welcome both. Our biggest and longest climb took us up the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Our ride captain was very knowledgable about the area and share tid bits here and there along the way. A the top of this long and what seemed endless climb (it was approximately 1 long) we stopped at a lookout sight to catch our breath and take in a beautiful sight. From there we had only 25 miles to go but I swear they were the toughest 25 miles I've ridden in a long time. I found myself counting off the remaining miles. We found ourselves racing an approaching storm the last 10 miles or so and those dark clouds helped all of us dig a little deeper and push a little harder to the finish. The heat and humidity were tough today. I drank 8 bottles (20 oz) of gatorade during the ride, a liter of water and felt somewhat dehydrated (mild stomach/intestinal cramps).

Our ride captain today had ridden a century on Saturday and was riding strong today, boy I hope I can do that some day. He also shared that he has ridden at least one century every month for the past 63 months - I found this amazing to say the least and so very cool.

[im4smiley]

oooh I forgot to say....I saw a Pileated Woodpecker on my ride today!! Flew across the road in front of us ....soooo cool!!