[OHPV-list] Peach Century!!!

[evangundy@RexelUSA.com]

So we got Sunday off to a great start.  Forgot to set the alarm, and instead of checking in at registration at 7:30am, we were loading up the van about then, with an hour drive ahead of us.  Got the bikes on the road about 8:45.  Wet, windy, yuck.  I send Dave off telling him not to wait for me.  I'm fighting a headache and have no energy.  I think I'm finally catching the cold he has had all week.  
 
I'm going to make it a short ride, but not sure of how far I'll get.  I put on my headphones to see if the music can help me ignore the rain and wind, but the headwind is strong enough, I can't hear the music at all.  So turn it off and put it away, and while I'm stopped I'll take off one layer.  Rand stops to say hi and make sure I'm ok and while we're chatting, John Williams and Todd Marley show up, on their way back.  Mechanical problems and other issues made it a short day for both of them.  I considered turning back with them, but decided I did want to get in a few more miles than that.  
 
Up and over the overpass and...... damn that wind is stronger now and it's raining much harder.  Coming up to the traffic light, I decided that was enough.  Time to turn back - odo shows 6.2 miles.  Get about a block, and see two bents heading out so am friendly and wave, and they wave back.  About 1/2 a minute later, realize .....  hey - that was Sandy & Matt  -  maybe I can catch them and ride with them for a little while, if I can just catch them before that first hill (by the corrections center) .......  Caught them at the light at the bottom of that hill.  They were just discussing if they should make it a shorter ride or do the 62.  I told them my idea of about 35 miles, with a shortcut that misses both rest stops, and they liked it.  Only encountered a couple light rain showers, nothing soaking.  Shortly after we picked up the return road, we were joined by Dave from Corvallis (Startle on BROL).  He rode with us back to the end.  Was nice to finally put a face with that name, and visit a little.
 
Sure made the ride a lot nicer with good company.  I still had my headache and I had very little energy for the few uphills, but they waited for me.  We stayed together through 2 flats (one for Sandy and one for Matt).  Ended up a much nicer day and ride than I had thought it would be.  Saw Jeff & Diane at the end.  They rolled in during one of the real downpours.  (We were standing under the big tree, eating our peach pie and drinking hot coffee.)  
 
All in all, a good day.  
Edna
 
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://ohpv.org/pipermail/ohpv-list_ohpv.org/attachments/20051003/625e3d38/attachment.htm