B+ Ride 6/3/10

(Long ago.)
I used to play alot of pool..a lot, and I was pretty good. I always loved playing a great player...just knew you were going to get and give a great game.
(Jump to the present.)
The same goes for today's ride...I can't improve upon Skip's great narrative on the TCC list serve, but just to add my own reflections...it was a great ride. It was tough for me, I can't even begin to tell you how hard I tried just to keep up heading onto N. Society Rd, I cursed every cigarette I ever smoked during every smoke-filled hour I spent playing those games of pool! Cry? No. I had no extra oxygen! Just kept my head down and moved forward, one pedal stroke at a time.
So...15.1avg by N. Society.
We flew down this fine road and headed toward the usual rest stop, Michaels Market...but no!...we were not stopping and my Pavlovian response to stop was squashed and I forced myself to regain speed to catch up with the main group. Mind you, I was never alone... Dave E., John J. and/or Skip was always close by to pull me through my many (slower) moments!
We got to the beautiful, scenic Harry's Market in Occum for our rest stop. Tammy and I rode to the p o' potty and got back to Harrys to enjoy...water, our nutrition goodies and shade...oh wait...no shade! Tammy sqeezed into the only stripe left by a telephone pole, certainly was not going to share!
So...16.2avg by Occum.
We didn't hang out long...but muscles had already semi -seized and I slogged up and around the bend...again, thinking we were going one way, and ended up another. At the intersection of 97/138 a local in a decrepit pick-up let Tammy know that 'roads were made fer pickups, not bikes!' Idiot.
Great new roads criss-crossed old familiar ones and then we were on Cemetery...I could envision the rest of the trip...Brook, Kemp, Back Rds...so as I took that right onto 97...like a cow heading towards the barn...I was asked the question 'Hey Kerry, where are you going?'
Sigh.
As we took the right onto Plains Rd. I thought oh great, Scotland Dam Loop, backwards! Couldn't imagine how we would get back to Windham...but we did and I made it and John. J pulled me up 203 at a respectable pace, if I may say. Tammy cruised by on the last small rise and I was glad to see her riding strong til the end...love riding with her!
So...15.2 by the end.
I got a great ride and am a better rider for it!