Turning of the Leaves and Giants Win It All

(October 29, 2012) Turning of the Leaves Metric ride around Sonoma County.  With *Ward, *Long, *Rebecca and *Dr. Dave (*who did Sweetwater Springs Climb), & #Jack, #Stephen, #June, #Andy, #Eri (#who wanted to spend more time with the burn outs in Guernville.) 70 miles

Halloween, the Giants in the World Series, a great bike ride.  How great is that.

This is an annual and bittersweet ride.  The ride is great.  Great scenery, loads of wineries, crap Sonoma Roads.  Only problem is that it usually signals the LAST nice day of the year---before the rain and cold really move in and it gets dark at 4pm.   Would have added on for a full century but wanted to get home to watch the Giants in the World Series.

Stephen and June plan a good route which starts on a climb on Chalk Hill--the end of the Santa Rosa Century.  Then its rollers through the vineyards with an optional climb--Sweetwater Springs--right outside Guernville--today full of pony tailed guys wearing Giants shirts. 

A friend of Steve's, Mr.Wobbly, usually shows up for this ride so we push the pace at the beginning to tire Mr. Wobbly out before he can half wheel us to death--but this time no Mr. Wobbly so we rode in a much more relaxed pace.  Except for Long and Rebecca.  Half the time I'd join them pushing the pace--at other times I'd join Ward as the ticket collector, where he we bringing riders dropped on a roller back to the pack on the flats.  That was when Ward and I weren't fn around taking photos, and there is alot of great background for photos.

I'd get lost if I did this route alone, I instantly remembered place where the witch in Volkswagen Bug buzzed us two years ago--and where a person has dogs playing cards set up in their front (vine)yard.  But this time the dogs were dressed as Giants fans.  A cyclist with a Giants jersey was nearby.  Our nice paceline interrupted when we got to the Sweetwater Springs cutoff--where a climbing detour on a back road awaited.  It started gently but finished as a double digit grade.  Since Mt Tam race was over I've put on 10 lbs but I wanted to do the climb and glad when half the club also wanted to.  Within a mile the trees were so dense it was almost nightfall. 

Coach Andy said while he didn't have to do Sweetwater Climb  we had to do it.  He looks serious so Ward, Dr. Dave and I had to do it  (WI) 

The extra weight made the climb hard--but it was alot more fun than the steep, curvy downhill on crap roads.  I think Dr. Dave kept using the word "uncambered" after each turn.  "Shit pavement" also applied.   I was so zonked when we got to the bottom I promptly would have gone the wrong way on the main road--Armstrong PED Woods Road, if Ward didn't correctly point in the opposite direction.

We all regroup with out flat road counterparts at Guernville Safeway--where it took 15 minutes to checkout a banana with  the five people in front of me on the express line.  I was just waiting for someone to pull out a checkbook and take 15 minutes more so I could scream.   Stephen has to find a mom and pop health food store as an alternative that makes macrobiotic organic veggie shakes with wheatgrass.   Eventually out we went and hit my favorite part of the Santa Rosa ride, some steep but mostly short rollers.  I knew they were too long if Rebecca and Long rode away, I knew they were just right if I could stay with them.

Suddenly at our "Bates Motel" house for group photo--the vineyard occupants put up a new fence.  The fence and the sunlight in the wrong place tried to defeat Ward's effort at for a good group photo. Next time Ward needs to bring the full sized tripod for Rebecca to carry and the slave flash with reflective umbrella for Long to cart around.

Ride is always over to quickly--BOOM, back on the Windsor green. It is now warm--even in the shade--it would have been nice to put in another 30 miles. But I wanted to start back to catch the World Series game. Apart from grabbing a yogurt I raced home and kept the playoff tradition alive--a few innings listening to the local guys on the radio, and then the national fools on television. Shut the Buck up. This time I got home way too early, just in time for the extended Taco Bell interview during the game, while Buck and McCarver prattled on while the Giants won again.

The Turning of the Leaves Championship Parade Movie--Good close up photos usually taken by Ward, I took the wide angle stuff and the baseball stuff.

.
In 2010 the feeling was profound relief--I never thought the Giants would win a World Championship in my lifetime.  For 40+ years the history of the SF Giants was that their drunk owner moved them into the worst stadium imaginable (despite some guy name Richard Nixon's pronouncement that Candlestick was the "finest ballpark in America.)   The Giants were jinxed.   In the isolated park with the constant fog stream--promising Giants pitchers never developed, the team would somehow always play good enough before 10,000 fans to finish...2nd, and weird trades that almost always hurt the Giants (goodbye Cepeda, goodbye Perry/ Foster) were constantly made.  Candlestick was cursed--even when the Giants made the World Series a delay because of rain let the Yankees reset their pitching rotation and a smash McCovey line drive to win was right to a Yankee.  Twenty five years later team steroids from the East Bay just had to use their two best pitchers when a little earthquake put a long break in the World Series.  New ownership meant that the Giants stopped signing 3 mediocre free agent players while the Yankees signed a future hall of famer--but even signing Barry Bonds was a curse in its own right.  They won 103 games and couldn't win the division, Bonds derisive attitude had Will Clark suddenly disappear, and later a team with two best of all times (Bonds/ Kent) couldn't win it all--partly because of the daggers they threw each other.

Timmy as a rookie, with hair 20" shorter than now, being autograph friendly and having a catch with my daughter with a ball Krukow and Kuiper gave us the day before--gotta like these guys.

Somehow from all of this came Pac Bell Park--the best ballpark in the land.  Long suffering frozen crowds of 10,000 (ok 55,000 rowdy drunks on opening day and Friday nights when the Dodgers came to town) gave way to 40,000 loud fans.  Mediocre teams or me me me teams gave way to players one could enjoy--even if they faltered.  The final piece was the Giants grabbing Bruce Botchy--the bullpen master-- when San Diego surprisingly discarded him for not playing youngsters.  We'd eventually learn that Botchy doesn't mind youngsters--he just is loyal to his core players.   We'd also learn that Botchy is a master fitting players into roles they can excel at--especially the bullpen.   No one runs a game better than Botchy.  And while I crab that the Giants don't sign the big name free agent--no one is as astute as getting value as Brian Sabian. 

Its funny, while the Giants DIDN'T WIN for 50 years I had to "dream" of a team I never saw--the 1951 pennant winning (Bobby Thompson's home run) NY Giants and 1954 World Series (Sweep) Champs (Willie May's catch) NY Giants.  First team with an all Black outfield.  A second baseman,  Stanky the brat, who'd do jumping jacks in the field to distract the hitter and pull other shenanigans like a running tag up start that baseball needed to legislate against. Sal the Barber Maglie--the barber for all the fastballs he threw at the batters chin (he couldn't be the same doofus pitching coach in Jim Bouton's Ball Four.)  But in the three years between great finishes, a substantial part of their roster changed which I didn't understand.

So we have the 2010 World Champs.  Suddenly a few guys retire.  A few other guys sign elsewhere as free agents, or get traded.  Injuries and age hit a few key players who suddenly are nonfactors just two years later.  Basically the 2012 team has, save Buster Posey and a slimmer Pablo Sandoval, an entirely new lineup.  No big hitting connection with the 2010 team.

 

Two championships in three years.  Thank you Giants.  What a great sports year.  (PC)

But wait--the picthing staff, especially the relief corps that usually changes dramatically from year to year, is intact from the 2010 championship team.  In 2010 they could depend on crazy Brian Wilson but he's out for the year (but always around lending support) so the other relievers all step up.  Timmy, the kid wonder has a lousy year and all the other starters step up.    Wilson, Freddie Sanchez injured for the season, Melky Cabrera drug suspension--Brian Sabian and Bruce Botchy keep finding "the fix" and the player rally around. 

So 2012 is not like 2010, its icing on the cake.  While stats are really big in baseball the team concept really really counts--which the Moneyball guys can't measure.    Servais Knaven once said it doesn't matter who wins as long as its someone from his team.  This great team concept from my favorite cycling team, Domo Farm in 2001, jumped to my favorite baseball team, the Giants team in 2012. Each won the big prize.   How great is that?!

Morgan-Patterson Pass (2012)

(October 13, 2012) Morgan Territory-Patterson Pass, 96 miles, 15.5 mph, w/ Dr. Dave, Christine, Jack.  Beginning of ride with Diablo Cyclists lead by new rider chairperson Ward.  Century #33

The Buster Posey-Morgan Patterson Pass ride.

Club ride this week is a metric loop over Morgan Territory, (55 miles, 3,000' climbing.)   This automatically means I'm adding on Patterson Pass, on the route of the Devil Mountain Double.  Patterson Pass is in the middle of nowhere (wind farms a little past Altamont, home of infamous Rolling Stones concert.)  The @12 mile fast run in to Patterson Pass is wonderful and strange--desolate, good road, light traffic, sudden overpasses, trestles and windmills, lots and lots of windmills pop up.  The downside is then you have to climb Patterson Pass which is a relatively easy 35 minute climb if the wind is calm (relatively easy grade though double digit grade the last 1/4 mile), a brutal 45 minute climb if the wind is blowing.  If the wind is blowing it is ALWAYS a headwind that gets strongest when you hit the steep grade right before the summit.    So--"if the windmills are turning you are screwed." Uncle Steve Berry

Dr Dave on the climb out of Concord on Ygnacio Valley (PC)

Cold overnight--Dr. Dave's heater kicked in and my wife closed the deck door the evening before so I knew it was cold.    47 degrees at wakeup.  Still cool at the start but quickly warmed up over the small hills out of Walnut Creek/ Concord toward Walnut Creek.  We had a few new riders with us and Ward was quickly elected new rider chairperson.  (He was the only one that voted--and to think he voted for himself.)

The backside of Mt Diablo (PC)

Fn around at the pumpkin patch (PC)

Easy ride out to Morgan--our usual pace animators-Toby-Cisco Dave-Rebecca not on this ride.  Strange thing--there is a stop only 9 miles from the start which I alway blow off--today was no different but there is a pumpkin patch down the road that still has the same "scenes" from 20+ years ago when I took my kids there--so I was screwing around at the pumpkin patch when the peloton rushed by, and I had a hard ride back to them.



The Diablo Cyclist peloton going up Morgan territory from the wooded North side (PC)

 Nice pace up north side Morgan which starts out fast, then turns into rollers, and then turns into a climb like Mt. Tam--solid grade punctuated by 100' HIT ME double digit grades.  Stephen told a nice story about when he met June and he rode his fastest century every (or at least didn't linger in rest stops) so he could see he at the end.   Christine and I bs'ing about the baseball playoffs while Dr. Dave wanted to talk about the Stanford Indians football team.  Ward making sure the new member(s) were having a good ride.   We all talked about photoshoppe possibilities if Ca Mike sends us any more photos of his new road rash.  Morgan up this side is thickly wooded and the road surface gets a little rough in places.    Wonderful climb on very hot or very windy days with the tree protection.

Christine and I have a political message at the top of Morgan Territory (DD)

We suddenly got to the top--suddenly as we were all busy BS'ing.  Sunny and no wind which made the picnic area great.  We waited for everyone to come up--and then lounged around for about a half hour.  If we were just doing the metric loop could have picnic'd up there for a few hours.

South side is much different--pavement much smoother and grade uniformly much steeper.  No trees so sidewind usually hit you.  But today relatively calm.  Long rumination going on at the bottom where everyone was going.  Dr. Dave and Christine said they'd join me on Patterson Pass--great great, as Dave hates Patterson Pass since he was almost blown over on his 'bent near the top long ago, and Christine was suffering with a hip injury last week on a much easier ride.

Ward and Christine flying down Morgan Territory's south side (PC)

Golden arches on the Morgan territory downhill (PC)

We started off and Jack joined us.  Waited for Ward to come up but he took his oath of office as new rider chairperson seriously, he didn't want to be compared to Paul Ryan, so he rode back with the new riders.  On Patterson Pass rides I think Ward and Dr. Dave are the same person as I have never seen them on Patterson Pass at the same time.   (Ward wound up looping back after he got the new riders home safely and did Morgan a second time)

Democracy in action-Dr. Dave votes for Patterson Pass--Christine lucky it wasn't a high five (PC)

The whole year--every time I agitate for Patterson Pass bonus miles we have to take a byzantine route through Pleasanton and Livermore--but off Morgan Territory the route was very direct--we all skipped the usual rest top in Livermore.  I was the only wimp wearing kneewarmers so I rolled them down while riding--tight on the drivetrain side so it wouldn't get into the chain.  Then the fun began--past the BMX park next to the highway--then the highway disappears--civilization disappears--and we are on a gentle climb with a nice tailwind.  Shoot past the Summit Garage.   Then fast flat/ downhill past a forest of windmills--almost none were truing and the few that were were on life support.   This was good as a stiff tailwind now would mean a stiff headwind on the Patterson Pass climb.  We only has a slight crosswind from the North.

Diablo Cyclist peloton on the fast run in towards Patterson Pass past the wind farms (PC)

No Rolling Stones tickets on sale, disappointed Dr. Dave cycling away from Altamont (PC)

Eventually turn and pass the Altamont Speedway/ Rolling Stones Historical Landmark.  I stop with Dr. Dave to pull off knee warmers while Jack and Christine go on.  A little more climbing, a downhill run in and a quick turn and we are on Patterson Pass.

Christine going up Patterson Pass--windfarms in the background (PC)

Christine and Jack arrive at the Patterson Pass summit (PC)

No motorcycles racing up and down today as when Toby & I did it a few months ago--but I still has a blinking mini headlight.  No other cyclists and maybe 3 cars came by in the other direction in the next @35 minutes.  About a quarter of the way up we caught up to Jack and three quarters up we caught up to a flying Christine. 



Group on top of Patterson Pass--Christin and I big Giants fans.  Dr. Dave distraught that no one brought a Stanford Indians banner.  Jack nonplussed as hockey is on strike and curling is not yet on local TV. (?)

 Steep portion at the end was relatively easy without the usual whistling headwind pouring through the gap.  Brought a SF Giants towel on the ride and we took a few group photos with it--luckily another cyclist was taking in the great views of the windmills/ ag valley at the top so he did the camera honors.

After Ward's double flats on the last ride I checked both tires before shooting down Patterson Pass.  Most of us only had 1/2 bottle left by now very fast to Cross Road--two stiff rollers, and more downhill where we'd take the longest break of the day at the Livermore Library with their "picnic area' in front.  (Next time when its calm--instead of going South on Cross Road we could go North and loop on Flynn Road and do the Patterson pass run in and climb again.)  At the Livermore Library a joyful cycling oldtimer came up to us and asked how the day was going--we exchanged great when he grinned and enthusiastically added "and we're not using any gas either."

Homemade lawn mower bike at the Livermore Library (PC)

Jack us to a busy downtown Livermore which was the shortest way back to country Highland Road--as we only had 90 miles back at the finish so in retrospect we should have taken the circular route around downtown.  At one point I saw a Pumpkin Farm sign, we didn't take the turn, so when we reached the next junction I circled back.  Jack and Dave joined me--Christine continued on.  The Pumpkin farm on Carneal wasn't anything to write home about and we quickly left. 

Rest of ride was pretty pedestrian--eventually in suburbia and past Blackhawk and Danville.  We thought Christine would be on the "next" segment but we only caught up to her in Walnut Creek.

Only @92 miles  so I rode with Dave and Christine toward their house on the newly paved trail (nice--no blind potholes.)  After a nice 2 mile cool down turned around so I'd get 95 miles---the length of the Chico Century and half the length of the Solvang Double, so it counts as a Century in my book.

New Rider Chairperson Ward tried to give this guy a membership application (WI)

Easy pace and great weather made it a very nice ride--and Patterson Pass as a nice as always.

Made the greatest recovery drink.  Ward started me on post ride protein shakes @3 years ago, and Christine started us on Coconut Water for the electrolytes.  This was the first time I combined the two, and it turned out great.

In insulated bottle freeze @8 oz of ZICO CHOCOLATE FLAVORED COCONUT WATER.  To this you'll add @12 oz of more coconut water with the following mixed in

2 scoops GOLD STANDARD WHEY PROTEIN POWDER-Chocolate Coconut
1 scoop  HAMMER PERPETUEM-Cafe Latte

Coconut Water--210 calories, 3g       fat,  3g     saturated fat,  42g carbs,   3g    protein
Protein Powder--260 calories, 3g       fat,  2g     saturated fat,   8g carbs,  48g    protein
Perpetuem-------135 calories, 1.25g  fat,   . 5g  saturated fat,  27g carbs,   3.5g protein
Total                   65 calories,   7.25g  fat,  5.5g  saturated fat,  77g carbs, 54.5g protein



  

Solano-Berryessa Ramble Century (2012)

This post dedicated to Lance Armstrong and his US Postal Team--officially declared "the best" this week.

Thx to Dr Dave and Cisco Dave for the happy athlete photos

"The evidence shows beyond a doubt that US POSTAL PRO CYCLING TEAM ran the MOST SOPHISTICATED, PROFESSIONALIZED, and SUCCESSFUL DOPING PROGRAM that sport has ever seen."-USADA   Please pass me the Giro Livestrong helmet.    (The English translation: "the MOST SOPHISTICATED, PROFESSIONALIZED, and SUCCESSFUL DOPING PROGRAMME that sport has ever seen" )


(Oct 6, 2012) Solano Ramble-Lake Berryessa Century, 111 miles, 17.5 mph, 7,000' climbing w/ Ward, Toby, Rebecca, Jack and began ride with Diablo Cyclists

WI elevation trace of the ride-I added blue blob that is supposed to represent Lake Berryessa.

#32 Century or more done this year

This is the Diablo Cyclists' feel good extended ride.  Usually, once our MPH is around 16 mph someone proposes adding some killer climbs until our MPH falls like home prices.  This ride has a long but relatively easy climb-Cardiac, lots of rollers, and its a speedway back to the start.    We had a good group that worked together well (or raced to the county lines) so speed was kept up all day.

Damn--I though Jack put down that this was a water gun ride--but its too damn cold at the start (CB)

Where is the giant helmet to cover the giant brain at the Solano Health Faire? (PC)

Ward, Dr. Dave and Toby scouted out the short course--the Solano Ramble portion on Thursday and confirmed that quite a few stores around depressed Lake Berryessa had closed.    Around Lake Solano this would be OK, but we best be stocked when we started riding up Pope Valley.   Rumor also spread that they borrowed a lawnmower and carved a political message on a nearby hill.

Did Dr Dave, Ward and Toby really lawnmower "Occupy My Butt" into a nearby hillside two days before this ride? (WI)

Toby Calling For His Favorite English Recording Artist while passing a farm on Pleasant Valley Road 

Our ride starts at Solano Community College where they were holding a health faire.   A few people wondered if I was there for the run (funny how I was asked and not Toby or Rebecca, our elite runners.)  Then a car stopped to give me a map for the 35 mile bike ride.  It was nice and sunny but I was cold--luckily Christine and Rebecca (no vests) shamed me into leaving behind my knee warmers.

Ward on Cantelow climbing loop (PC)

Christine on Cantelow Road (PC)

I'm coming up with Christine on another "hit me roller" on the Cantelow Loop (WI)

Ride starts in farmland that goes through a neighborhood and then winds up on that great 13 mile stretch--Pleasant Valley Road--that I rode 3 times last weekend.   This time we took a mid road detour on the Cantelow Loop--not a long climb but pock marked with sudden double digit grades.  It is a rural road usually void of traffic but today nearby road work put some cars on it, with some dick in a pickemup truck yelling to the back of our group "I'll run you over."--no doubt his meth supply was going on sale at the outlet stores a few miles away and he was pissed at having to detour.

When we got to the bottom of Cantelow a group from the Davis Bike Club gathered, and they started up the road at the same time we did and a few of their members got intertwined in our paceline--all good as they were steady.  One member of their group told his folks to drop off our line--which they all did except one guy riding a bamboo bike.  Our high speed line toward Lake Solano was suddenly cut short when Ward got stung by a bee.  Ward usually has a crap reaction to insect stings so Toby slowed the line down and I went to the back to keep my eye on Ward. 

Peacock inspecting Don's fixed gear at Lake Solano park (PC)

Christine and Rebecca discussing the outlet store bargains (PC)

Toby and Stephen trying to remember where the  county lines are after we leave Lake Solano (PC)

Long time at Lake Solano rest stop while Ward rested and we bs'd with a few club members who were now turning around--all under the observation of the roaming peacocks.  Ward recovered well and we had a nice paceline out to the Cardiac Climb until we all remembered the two county lines within a half mile of each other.  While our county line sprinter--Stephen--claims he's reformed we still don't trust him.

On the Cardiac climb we saw Kitty doing a short brevet, so we rode a little with her and reminisced when I hurt my ankle and were climbing Knoxville Road together years ago, and I almost barfed after she told me what she hoped to eat at lunch.  When we got going Toby-Rebecca and June were up the road and Ward-Stephen and I paced each other up the climb.  On the long downhill I was behind the pack, as usual, and had a nice view of a PARK RANGER in a pick up truck passing Stephen/ Ward on a tight curve--1/4 in the opposing traffic lane.  About 10 seconds later a car in the opposite direction appeared--had he been 10 seconds quicker and there would have been a major collision.

On Cardiac Climb we see clubmate Kitty slumming and doing a real short brevet--Kitty was first female to participate in RAAM--cycling race across America--back in the early 1980's (PC)

At entry to Pope Valley half the group headed back while Toby, Rebecca, Ward, Jack and I added a bonus loop around Berryessa.  Weather was now nice enough to get rid of t-shirt--in fact weather was perfect all day.   This whole ride was new for Rebecca and the bonus loop new for Toby.  Usually the bonus mile group takes it easy but with Toby and Rebecca aboard there would be someone setting a strong pace all day.  



Turnoff to Lake Berryessa-Spanish Flat (WI)



Rollers to Spanish Flat (PC)

Stores were all closed at beginning of Pope Valley. so we had t go another 15 miles to Spanish Flat store.  Nice paceline towards Pope Valley when we ALMOST got hit by two speeding motorcycles when we were all in the shoulder.  Honest.  Oh yeah--the motorcycles weren't traveling in our direction but were flying by a line of cars in the opposite direction and were suddenly traveling head on towards up--about 3' away.   Wish I still had the super soaker with me.

(top sign) With no bathrooms around our group will be making lots of stops in the next few miles--glad we don't need gas  (bottom sign) Nice crime watch sign (PC)

Then at @mile 50 we stopped 3x in about 10 miles--once at the grocery at Spanish Flat, stop at the Lake Berryessa visitors center, and stopped again at the same Lake Berryessa parking lot that was the rest stop before Knoxville Road climb last week.  Around Lake Berryessa it was mostly a series of  fast rollers, after the Lake Berryessa parking lot many more longer/ steeper momentum killer rollers.  On the latter section Rebecca and Toby took off while Ward and I were fn around with photos.

Rebecca on Lower Knoxville Road (WI)

Toby on Lower Knoxville Road (WI)

I'm climbing away from Lake Berryessa (WI)

Toby on Lower Knoxville Road (WI)

Ward either watching a movie or taking photo of Rebecca that appears first in this group of photos (PC)

Toby, Rebecca, Ward leave Lake Berryessa (PC)

Luckily we were all back together on the run in cross Pope Valley---the sun is almost in a perfect place for photographs and there is a nice background of grape vines.  We eventually wound up at the Pope Valley Store where I recreated my diet of last week right here--a coconut frozen fruit bar and a Gatoraid G.  In the small world department Jack recognized two other cyclists here who often ride Mt. Diablo--but they had parked much closer to Pope Valley than we did.

Jack looking for Rice Krispie Treats (WI)

Toby Rebecca and me enjoying the break at Pope Valley(WI)

When we started out a cyclist came shooting by dressed up in grab honoring "THE MOST SUCCESSFUL" DOPING TEAM, so I had to put in a dig to catch up to him--turned out to be a nice guy and had started just down the road from his house while we were on mile 70.

Jack on Lower Chiles Valley Road--Dr Dave's favorite recumbent road (PC)

Toby making his Lance-McKayla face on Lower Chiles Valley Road (PC)

Ward hoping the car coming up is a Prius and not a black pickup with an Oakland Raiders decal (PC)

Lots of rollers but I didn't think we'd see any significant climbs for awhile---I forgot about Dr. Dave's favorite recumbent road--Lower Chiles Valley Road.  Very nice unstriped backroad through some vineyards--with a few sudden short but double digit rollers.   We regrouped before getting on the main road and ran a strong 5 man back to the intersection we started Pope Valley at.

Diablo Cyclist bonus mile peloton thru Sage Canyon & Wooden Valley (WI)

When we got back to Highway 128--instead of going left, back over Cardiac, we turned right where we were met by a series of momentum killing rollers on a road that was freshly paved but not yet restriped.   A little disconcerting taking some turns not sure where your lane ended.   The payoff, however, was a fast run in back to Solano through Suisun Valley.  Slightly downhill, tailwind aided, smooth pavement--hell, I suddenly felt fast.  Group stayed together until Ward and Toby took off, ????, I put a sprint to get back to Ward while Toby accelerated again for---another county line.  Well, at least it wasn't for a Strava Time segment.  (While looking at for elevation reading for last weeks Knoxville  I was amazed at the posted Strava Segments--eg. 2nd fastest, of the few people recording w/ Strava, on 37 feet of a 200 mile ride while going downhill on Grandma's Driveway. Shit, do a timed double and see if you are 2nd fastest on the whole 200 miles.)

Suddenly back at the college.  Realized weather has been nearly perfect--never hot or cold, sunny and not windy.    Very good group both on the regular ride and then the bonus portion.  Another great ride.