Hey, hey, my blog is back

Ack!! I haven't blogged in ages. How very lame.

With that said, I must blog-ify. First about my ride on Saturday, which was definitely the longest and most difficult that I've ever done.

To back up a bit, I should explain that the week before was the Western Wheeler's Sequoia Century, and being a member and all, I (and Buffy) decided to volunteer to help with the ride. We ended up doing support for the rest stop at the CDF fire station up near Highway 9 and Skyline, and it was kind of an adventure in itself, though of a different kind. I had to rent a big cargo-type van, no wimpy minivans here, to hold the supplies. We helped with the loading the day before, then on ride day I drove it up 9 to the fire station. Driving a big rattly thing like that up a twisty road like 9 was a bit disturbing.
Also, every time I passed a cyclist, I had the urge to turn around and yell 'Rider up!' ...
Anyhow, the key thing I learned at the rest stop is how not to fill up a five gallon jug of Gatorade. Not how to do it, but you have to leave some things for later, or else what is life about?

Anyhow, the next week there was a supported ride for the people who worked in the Sequoia, following the same routes. Except for a detour to not collide with the Alto Velo race that was going on around Pescadero. Which was cool to see, by the way. I had no idea how individuals were doing, but watching those packs of riders blast by was quite impressive.

So anyway, I had signed up for the 100k route, which had an impressive amount of climb, and seemed like a reasonable thing to try, considering that I hadn't been able to do a long ride the last two weeks. And then along comes an email on the club list from Rao, who has led many many of the rides I've been on, inviting people who wanted to do the longer route to
go with him and leave earlier.
A little, irrational voice in my head kept saying "Wouldn't it be awesome to have done that (112 miles, 9000 feet)" while my more rational side screamed in terror.
However, I was unable to quiet the little crazy voice, and found myself at the VA (starting point) at 6:30 am on Saturday. Only three of us were game to start that early, so off we went. My hardest time was actually climbing Elena, because Rao and Alex (the other rider) started off at what was for me a brisk pace, and two weekends off really took their toll.
I was almost ready to give up at the top of Page Mill, but the nice volunteer there with water and tasty fig newtons boosted my morale considerably, and down the hill I went.

So, beautiful weather, tons of climbing, and a house that is part submarine.
Herewith pics and profile: