Did the second-to-last big pre-STP ride, 54 miles on my single. Okay, I grant it was all on the trail, whereas the uber-STPers were all out doing the same mileage on the streets with serious hills. But it was still 54 miles. And actually I feel pretty good! Went to a 7 pm reading at the University Bookstore by a fellow weaver and sci fi writer, Syne Mitchell, of her latest book (the idea for which she got at a DARPA conference on nanotechnology--they invited her just because she's so smart, I think). My point being...I was still awake and alert enough to go, enjoy it, be impressed by her brains and sense of humor, and buy two of her books. For me, after 54 miles, that's pretty good! Perfect weather, sunny and 70.

Oh yeah. Ate more gnats on the ride. I live in daily expectation of having a big bumblebee go right down my throat.

Bald eagles. GB herons. Ducklings.