Ben made me a substantial breakfast that saved me on today's ride. Thank you!

Today's ALC 08 ride was 53 miles (plus 6 blocks to/from meeting point) over an elevation gain of 4,350 feet. Try clicking the Satellite button!

What a fantastic day! Truly great! I have zero complaints and my legs felt very strong at the sign-out point. At one point before our second rest stop, I was nearly convinced that I was lost and had missed a turn. Because Chris is a technical writer, his instructions were indeed correct. He did not write that the turn was unsigned, he wrote that the turn was not at a signal or a stop sign. So, user error had me peeing in the bushes because I had no idea how much longer I might have to bike to reorient myself. Well, I cannot tell directions after having been hit by a car years ago so I will obtain a Garmin very soon.

I am riding on a compact double and learned today that I need to understand what all the numbers are about wrt (with regard to) the chainrings in front and back.

The verbal encouragement from a birthday-boy ride leader was so welcomed during the ascent. He said we (co-rider Paul and I) looked very strong and that we were fantastic. What a wonderful thing to hear at that altitude!! (Yes, I know some of you non-Americans reading this are grinning because we exaggerate things "to the max". Sometimes, you just gotta feel fantastic, especially when your ass is not as sore it otherwise could be.)

There is something to be said about snapping pictures with a crappy iPhone camera. There is something entirely different to be said for hearing the SOUNDS of the ride. I stopped to listen to the breeze through the trees, and the birds at the tops of the hills/mountains. Then there is the wind on the descents. I want to bring my recording device with me next time because the sounds are often more interesting than the images. The beautiful sounds and calm breezes atop fir trees. Nothing in the world like it. The smells of the ride are also interesting. To be able to capture those to post on the Internet! Maybe someday.

There were two distinct smells on today's ride. The first was from somewhere along highway 35. I have no idea what cooking meth smells like, but it's what came to mind. It was not a natural combination of smells. The other noticeable smell was that of Eucalyptus trees. *Pow!*, up your nose! Then there was the common car exhaust from time-to-time. If drivers could smell what they generate, there would not be a car pollution problem.

I digress.

Get out and ride a bike, it's a vacation at home.