Somehow my legs just don't feel like I've given them enough rest since the two big rides. I have butterflies in my stomach and the excitement is building. Somehow I can't wait to get on the bike.
Well, after numerous delays mostly caused by headupmyassedness, I decided to shorten the ride to 80 miles but still getting the six gaps, known in the rest of the world as mountains. I'm going to need to get a thesaurus for this trip because this ride was absolutely beautiful. I realize I'm seeing it in the spring but this country is fantastic. I really don't have the skill to convey its beauty in pictures but I will post a few anyway.
The pattern of the day went like this. Climb climb climb wwhhheeeeeeee! The roads surface was great the curves were wide open and I could literally pass the cars on the way down without being dangerous. None of the climbs were especially difficult. Even the bad one "Hogpen gap" was just a matter of putting it in the climbing gear and grinding it out. Most of the climbs had paint on the road to show where the Strava segments started and ended.
The people were extremely friendly. I never failed to get a wave and a friendly smile whenever I would ride past. One nice couple gave me icewater just before I climbed hog pen gap. I guess one of the local favorites is boiled peanuts. I stopped at a little country store that was opened during Prohibition to sell moonshine and cater to the gambling trade. Today it seems a little more mellow so I stopped in and got some water and tried some of the boiled peanuts. They're a little like boiled beans and they do them over a smoky fire which imparts a great flavor.
All in all it was a fairly perfect day. And it ended up with a fantastic meal of Mexican food with Maura. Except for the bad food and the terrible service it was otherwise a splendid meal. Apparently good company can overcome a lot.
Amazing!
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