Down by the River

Saturday's NCAC ride was as gorgeous as last month, with a smaller group, and a different direction down the river (different river, actually). What a gorgeous day. It was the kind of ride that reminds me why I get on my bike over and over. Especially because it was flat -- I'd rather ride on flatland. I was talking up the '09 ride with Erin (below) and Ron (left) and telling them all the fun details (no, you don't have to carry your own bags, yes, you have to sleep on the ground, yes, there is lots and lots of food, no, you don't have to cook it). It reminded me that I should start fund-raising. Hadn't I started by this time last year? I can't remember.

How 'bout that helmet-cam up there? I didn't get many photos on Saturday because I was busy going fast and talking (but not usually at the same time). I'm thinking of getting a trainer so that I can keep riding this winter (just not outside) and work on speed. I think I probably have a little longer outside, considering it's Oct 26, and today's high was 85 degrees, but if it ever does get cold, I'd like to keep cycling.

I tried to get some photos of the gigantic homes that line the river (some of them on stilts, but it's a flood plain, afterall), but they were hard to capture. This is one of them that seemed to be part of a giant compound of giant homes.

I rode back on my own and tried to convince myself that if I rode really really fast, I could catch someone who turned around early. It worked up until the last 2 miles or so -- I maintained an 18-22mph pace for most of the distance.



If Mia hadn't have gone to the vet today in a semi-rush, maybe I could just buy myself a trainer. Instead, I got to find out about gross (and expensive) cat disorders (that are thankfully fixable in a couple of visits). Poor Mia.