Cycling Ellen

52 miles today
2731.2 total

This morning, Pat, a fellow Vermonter and my roommate for the night, and I both woke up about 4:30 a.m.  We must have been anticipating the time zone change today back to Eastern Time in Chattahoochee.  I think we were also anticipating a run across the street from the motel where there was a donut shop with a great reputation.  My easiest 90-mile day was the day in Texas where I had an apple fritter early in the day.  Even though today was only 50 miles, both Pat and I couldn’t pass up the chance for an exuberant day on the bike fueled by sugar.

Indeed, many of the variables that made yesterday challenging were still there – the heat, the humidity, an early start, the headwinds – but for some reason it was an easy ride.  So, maybe it wasn’t the apple fritter.  Maybe it was because it was mainly on beautiful country roads for the most part and only half the distance.  There were a few major hills, though, enough to use some of the lower gears that haven’t been used for weeks.  I was surprised by the number of climbs along with some fun rollers.  Funny how quickly we forget about climbs and how quickly our bodies remember what to do with them.

Today’s fun was also because of Mary Kay’s plan to make this a poker day.  Debbie, our sag driver today, was in charge of the card dealing.  First thing this morning, we all put in a dollar and got three cards.  At the first sag stop, we had the option of continuing for another dollar and getting 1,2,3 or 4 cards (you had to trade some in for more than one).  At the last sag stop at mile 40, you could get another card for another dollar.  At dinner tonight, we’ll find out who won the whole pot.  I was hoping to win and put the money toward my fundraising but given my cards, I think I stand the same chance as a snowball in the parking lot today.

There was another challenge thrown out last night by Michelle, our leader.  If we could prove that we took a detour to Georgia on today’s ride, we could have another state line party tonight.  Mary, Pat and I headed north, found the line, took the required pictures and then went a little further up the road to check out the lake formed by a dam there.  It was a beautiful spot and represented Georgia well for those women for whom that’s all they’ve seen.

When we arrived here in Quincy, I was thrilled to receive a package with my prescription biking glasses.  The lens cracked a long time ago so I sent them back (under warranty) in early April.  I’ve been wearing some industrial sized ones from Walmart that fit over my regular distance prescription lens.  I’ve taken my share of ribbing from the group about them (but they worked!) and you may have noticed them in my pictures (even though I tried to remember to take them off most of the time when I saw a camera).  Sorry, everyone.  The fun’s over on that count!