Oh Beautiful . . .

This year, I did America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride -- the 72-mile loop around Lake Tahoe -- by myself. A mere two weeks after the NCAC made riding alone that much more poignant. Granted, riding alone with 3,000 other people is not the same as taking a spin down the river road and not seeing another person for 30 miles, but still . . .

This is the second 'big' ride I've done [alone] this year. The most noticeable difference is that I can get in and out of rest stops a lot faster when I'm alone. Especially when they are full of food in which I have no interest. This particular ride tends to stock fig newtons at the rest stops. I would eat a hundred of those, but for the sugar and gluten.

My blurry attempt to capture the gorgeous sunrise on my way to Tahoe. I got up at 4:30 to get there in time to start the ride. Makes for a rough beginning.

Starting off -- the first 1/2 mile or so -- this is not a great photo, but check out all that snow!

One of my first views of the lake (once I got out of town). Breath-taking.

More.

Top of the Emerald Bay climb. Ouch. I decided to get off my bike and take a breath . . . and a photo. They call the top "Inspiration Point." Most folks looked like they were inspired to throw their bikes in the lake.

Semi-random photo of a tree with a number-tag. I don't know why.

Lake and snow at lunch. It was such a warm day (much warmer than last year).

Folks were getting all the rental toys ready for water play.

A while after leaving lunch. It's a shame that the photos can't quite capture it. I need a camera like my brother's that could pick up the detail on a flea's butt. Check out that green, clear water in the foreground.

Smiling as I go. Mostly because there was nothing else to do.

Except pose for my own photos.

As the Spooner Junction climb (ouch) levels out, it opens up into these amazing fields. Gorgeous. There have been lots of thunderstorms in the last month. It's probably even greener.

And I made it! There was nothing I could eat for lunch, so I just changed my clothes and headed back down the hill. A little anti-climatic.

Except for my self-congratulations, that is.

Jule 6, 2010.