With my slow pace and the lack of sunlight, I made sure to get on the trail before sunrise. I parked at Old Missouri trail head, rode north for a couple of hours and then headed back to the van to shed the cold weather gear.
The temperature was 36 when I took off but a very curious thing happened as I made my way to the north and then east side of Lake Fayetteville: the temperature dropped dramatically and I noticed heavy frost on the ground. I went from well above freezing to 28 degrees and my hands certainly knew it. That is an aspect of climate that I get a kick out of, the way that there can be marked changes from one area to another in the same town.
After shedding some gear, I continued on to the south end of the trail where I met Wes who accompanied me on 50 miles of the trip today. I already had logged 26 miles by the time we rendezvoused so I was anticipating fairly smooth sailing for the remainder of the ride. Riding with Wes definitely made the time go by but by mile 50 I was beginning to get a bit weary.
I guess it didn't help that I picked a route that had some good climbs in it, including a half-mile hill that had a 23% grade. It's the one on the road that connects Hwy 74 with CORD 38 (Sunset Rd). And, we had to deal with a headwind for the first half of the ride.
We were moving along nicely on 71 with the wind at our backs when my front tube did not merely go flat, but blew. The bang was loud enough to get Wes' attention who was riding a good 30-40 feet in front of me. I guess the last 100 miler of the year had to have a bit of extra excitement.
With 25 miles to go and with Wes needing to head off to work, I continued on my own.
Thanks so much for today's ride, Wes.
Alone now, I could feel my pain more intensely and the miles rolled gruelingly along. When I got home, I mentioned to Carol that part of the ride became grueling and she asked, "Why didn't you stop?" I looked at her in disbelief, wondering if she was joking. She was not. There have been plenty of grueling moments during this past year; why stop now? Getting in one more century seemed to be a perfect finishing touch.
With the sun getting low, I stayed on the trail, going back and some as I worked to get in the last miles. The long shadow below, cast by the fence on the other side of the trail, really caught my eye. I really needed a camera with a VERY wide angle lens to capture the feel of this line that seemed to mystically run across the trees. There was something surreal about the line, a Stonehenge quality where people wait a full year to see the shadow cast upon the trees in just that manner and thus revealing some secret message.
Only 3 miles from the end I passed Becky Purcell. I believe I have a picture of her son Carlin in the blog and I know I have her husband Larry.
She was out for quite a ride herself zig-zagging back and forth around town, visiting friends and doing errands.
And, back at the trail head, I made sure to throw in another mile for good measure. After all, Disney knew something when he came up with 101 Dalmatians instead of 100; it just sounds better.
Whew!
Today's Ride: 8hrs 47mins (actual time: 10 hours, almost exactly). 101.17 miles. 28°-58°
Miles YTD: 10,331.78. Hours to date: 899.53 hours.
Donations for Biking for Food, which support the Community Meals at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, AR, can be sent to: Biking for Food, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 224 N. East Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701
Or, make a pledge per bike miles ridden at www.stpaulsfay.org/bikingforfood.html.
To see older postings, search the Archives listed on the right had panel.
To see postings before 30 November 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike3.blogspot.com
To see postings before 15 August 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike2.blogspot.com
To see postings before 11 June 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike.blogspot.com
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