Tour d'Oconee...Part Deux.......

Instead of (wisely) spending Cinco de Mayo sipping margaritas, I did a bike ride in my hometown. Katydid and I rode in the inaugural event last year, and it was a wonderful experience.

Katydid didn't go this year (would that make her Katydidn't?) because she participated in a 5K with her grandson. That probably took her less than an hour, and I was on my bike for 4 hours and 6 minutes. Further proof that educated doesn't necessarily mean smart. Plus, she won in her age division, and I didn't get a bloomin' thing. Further proof... never mind.

I think I posted a picture of the route last year, but I'm posting today's again just because I think it's cool. Do you think they designed this route to look like a lion, or do you think someone rode it, uploaded the route data into a program like mine, and THEN decided it looked like a lion? I'm betting on the second option.

That middle part, where it looks like we went into the lion's intestines, represents the loop part of the ride that made the 62-mile option. The majority of people rode the 62-mile option last year; this year the majority didn't. I was in the smaller percentage of people. Further proof... never mind.

I had the route on my GPS while I was riding, so instead of concentrating on mileage or time, I kept asking myself, "Where in the hell on that $#!*#($ lion AM I?" When I made the turn on the nose and started up the "face" of the lion, I felt a little bit better. But not much, because being familiar with the route and the location, I knew there were still some difficult times ahead.

The total elevation gained over this route was 2256 feet. In comparison, the most recent 50-mile+ rides we have done have had total elevation gained of: 1525 (Mississippi), 1812 (Spring Tune-Up), 1826 (Spring Tune-Up), 1610 (Best Dam Ride Ever), and 944 (St. Patrick's Day Century). So my suffering toward the end of the ride was not imaginary - it was hard work, even compared to other rides of similar length. And it was hot, hot, hot.

There were a couple of things that made me less effusive in my praise of this ride than I was last year. For one thing, the ride was slated to start at 9:00, with registration beginning at 7:30. I got there sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 (probably closer to 8:00), and it seemed like an ETERNITY before the ride started. I rode around in circles (didn't even count those "miles"), meandered to the front of the line in the hope of encouraging other rides to do the same, even said to a few people, "Let's go already!" With the temperatures predicted to approach 90 degrees today, it seemed to me that an earlier start would have been preferable. Or maybe two different starts, with the 62-mile folks leaving earlier. I realize it's difficult to get volunteers out there at the crack of dawn, but personally I would have relished those 45-60 minutes of cooler riding.

The ride officials and a couple of people at the rest stops kept singing the praises of a restaurant that would be providing lunch at the end of the ride. I wasn't that hungry at the end (I never am), but I didn't do a very good job of eating properly on the ride today (more on that in a moment). So I lined up at the food tent when I got back, and the choices were a hamburger or chicken tacos. Um...neither? The guy in charge of the tent sensed my disappointment and said he could make me a grilled chicken sandwich. Then I heard the girl taking orders tell a couple, "That'll be $5 each."

Wait. I thought it was INCLUDED? The couple thought so too, and they said they didn't have any money and turned away. I did the same, a little irritated. I HAD money on my bike (a few yards away), but I was mostly embarrassed that I thought it was included and it wasn't. I turned to go, and the guy said, "I've already made yours, so let us feed you." I was more embarrassed than hungry, though, so I said no thanks and walked away.

I'm not sure where I got the idea that the lunch was part of the bike ride, but it's not uncommon. And obviously I wasn't the only person who thought so. So while it may have been my own misunderstanding, that was a bit of a disappointment.

On a positive note, however, I stopped at Dairy Queen right after leaving the ride location. It was only about a 20-minute drive home, but I was in desperate need of something COLD to drink. (The water in my bottles was like bath water by then.) I intended to get the largest size diet soft drink they sold, but then something on the menu caught my eye: Frozen Hot Chocolate. In a choice of peanut butter, caramel, and something else. I got a medium, and that was the best drink I think I've ever had in my whole life. I realize it likely had a gazillion calories in it (but perhaps less than a milkshake? maybe?), but it was WAY refreshing. And perked me up for the trip home.

I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I did manage a few.

The ride organizer FINALLY convinced the others riders to move up there with the grumpy middle-aged woman who was waiting impatiently right behind the sheriff's deputy's car.

These signs even turn up on organized rides. Sorry for the poor angle, but I didn't plan far enough in advance. Luckily we turned left.

The church where I got married (the first time). I thought I took a picture of the church itself, but apparently I had slid the selector to "video." Drat.

The house where I lived from 1973 until I got married in 1982. I don't remember what year Mom sold it, but I was heartbroken.

I don't know what's up with the red door. I remember my step-father building that retaining wall in the front yard. And backing into it when I was trying to learn to drive. Likewise the well cover on the left side, which I will forever think was rather poorly placed. Sorry for the lopsided picture; this was at about mile 59, and if I had stopped those people would have had to deal with me moving back in.

Tour d'Oconee......

Katydid and I participated in a bicycle ride today that was appealing for many, many reasons. First of all, it was only about 30 minutes from my house, so we didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn. Second of all, it was in our home county, where we both grew up and graduated from high school.

It was the first time this particular ride had been done, and that's always an iffy proposition. Do the organizers know what they're doing? Have they thought of the gazillion things that could go wrong? Are they prepared for the number of cyclists that might turn out on a chamber-of-commerce-weather day in Georgia in May?

I don't think the ride could have been run more professionally. Roads were well marked, the routes were absolutely gorgeous, rest stop volunteers were friendly and helpful (example: I heard a woman ask for a cup late in the day, and a volunteer said they were out. Then I heard the same volunteer say, "But we'll find you one." I didn't see the end of the encounter. I hope they didn't "find one" in the trash. Ha ha), and police officers were EVERYWHERE, even late in the day, to assist cyclists in crossing major roads and intersections. It was so cool to have them stop traffic to allow us to cross without stopping, even when Katydid and I were the only cyclists in sight.

The route started out flat and fast, and I should have known it wouldn't stay that way. (I actually DID know it, but I wanted to pretend the information I had was wrong and we would sail along averaging 16 mph for the whole ride. Wishful thinking.) It seemed that all the hills were at the end, or maybe we were just tired. We rode by the house where I lived from age 12 until I got married, we rode within sight of a little house where Sweet  Girl and I lived during a separation from my ex, and best of all we rode across the bridge that Jason and I jumped off on my 17th birthday (separate entry coming for that). I kicked myself all the way across the bridge when I realized I had left my camera in the car. I specifically wanted it today because I KNEW the route was going across that bridge. Damn it.

The t-shirt is noteworthy too. The route map resembles the outline of a lion, so the ride was dubbed "Tame the Lion." If I didn't have the shirt on, I would take a picture of it, so you'll just have to trust me. You can see the logo here and picture it on a white t-shirt. It's all about the t-shirt, mind you.  You can see the actual route we took, uploaded from my GPS, below.

Excellent, excellent ride. I hope this one becomes an annual thing.