This was such a great ride. I’m definitely experiencing more often the equivalent of runner’s high on the bike and for longer periods of time. I cannot get enough of it.

My bike handling is improving by leaps and bounds. A new favorite is pedaling out of the saddle to pick up speed. I want to be able to do that up hills consistently. I’m also working on getting more comfortable switching to the drops.

This is my 2nd foray into a male dominated sport, and I’m loving it just as much as the first (powerlifting.) The women are very excited to see another woman, and the men are so sweet and supportive. We paused at one of the covered bridges for a pit stop, and a woman on her bike came right over to excitedly tell us about the Bike Across America group she’d run into - it was like 50 people with a SAG vehicle. We had not seen them, but now we want to look that up!

The second person was an older gentleman that I overtook on a hill. He didn’t have rearview mirrors on his handlebars so I said good morning as I came even with him so as to not startle him. “Oh hi!” he said, with the most gorgeous grin. It made my morning.

We kept leapfrogging with him after that - he was doing our exact route!

We swung into downtown to have coffee and yogurt parfaits at G&G. On our way out, we again crossed paths with the gentleman!

“Oh hey! I know you guys!” he said with that grin. “How far did you go?” he asked.

“About 45 miles,” I said.

“That’s a great distance!” he said. We parted ways shortly after.

I timed this SO PERFECTLY!! It was supposed to be 3:10 hrs, and that was exactly my total.

Now…to do it faster. I’d like to be able to start getting closer to 16 mph average on these roads…

Photos:
1. Mallorca sweet bread toast + scrambled eggs pre-ride.
2. A new neighborhood off of Opposumtown Pike…I LOVE those houses! They are one level with an attic, with log and stone exteriors. They look like cabins. I would totally live there!