Great Lakes - Saturday's solo 64--Ride Report

It turned out to be a four-hour adventure on Saturday, in sunny, bright conditions through the countryside. It was a double-dip ride that saw 64 miles by the time it was over. I rode from our house in Wauwatosa to the lake house in Jefferson County, which is 36 hilly miles. Of course, what wind there was, 8-10 mph, was in my face as I headed west. But with views like this, well, who cares really?

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/ride2007-06-09_4.jpg

Everything was looking very green, and I was enjoying the ride to the lake....

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/ride2007-06-09_5.jpg

I got there in 2:08. I went inside to grab a fresh water bottle and a snack, and within 15 minutes was back on the road. That's when the real adventure began.

I took a map of a route provided on-line by Backyard Bikes. Of course, I got lost along the way. When you are on those little country roads, sometimes the map doesn't add up to reality and you have to guess on directions.

I CAN tell you the corn crop is looking good though!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/ride2007-06-09.jpg

But the people along the way were fantastic. It seemed for a while there that every time I would stop at an intersection to pull out my map, someone would ask if I needed help. There were the two girls in a car who pulled up alongside me and told which way to turn...there was the horse lady who came walking over from her stables to provide a lending hand...there was the doberman lady who told me about a tricky bend in the road as I complimented her beautiful dog....there was the old guy in the truck who told me where Highway 12 was....and finally, there was Highway 12, which I decided to take even though it was busy. That's because I was getting tired and gave up the map, knowing that 12 would lead me to La Grange and the Backyard Bikes shop, where I stopped to find my best friend, Mr. Hose!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/ride2007-06-09_2.jpg

The water that comes out of this hose outside their shop is ice cold and oh so good!

Then it was back six miles to the lake house. Now refreshed and knowing where I was again, the adrenalin kicked in and I flew down "H" to home base, where the reward was this view from the house, and a few ice cold beverages. A solo 64 was in the books.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/ride2007-06-09_1.jpg

No rest though...

After 64 miles of hills and sun, I had to cut all the grass by hand out there. I really should get a riding mower!

What a day.

<snip>there was the doberman lady ...I complimented her beautiful dog.<snip>

That can get a man in all sorts of trouble. Sounds like a nice ride Hip. I thought you said you were never going to ride a century again....I guess metrics don't count huh??

That can get a man in all sorts of trouble. Sounds like a nice ride Hip. I thought you said you were never going to ride a century again....I guess metrics don't count huh??

^Is THAT what that's called?
Huh...

I don't know...Psimet, I just kept going because it was so nice out.
We could do this route on Aug. 4th for the HIP bash...if you wanna get lost and all that jazz...

^Is THAT what that's called?
Huh...

I don't know...Psimet, I just kept going because it was so nice out.
We could do this route on Aug. 4th for the HIP bash...if you wanna get lost and all that jazz...
Sounds good, but we might "yell at you"...the ride leader, for getting us lost. ;)

If we get lost, no matter who the leader is, we yell at Psimet.

Nice ride report, Hip. So, is August 4th the bash?

If we get lost, no matter who the leader is, we yell at Psimet.

Nice ride report, Hip. So, is August 4th the bash?

correct.
(OK, enough botto wannabe)

We could do the organized Elkhorn ride, which has a fee and has rest stops and a clearly-marked route...
OR
We could do a Backyard Bikes-mapped route that ends up at La Grange...then back to the lake house for some hangout time if the weather holds. Psimet can take the point and lead from the map...I have no sense of direction whatsoever.

I might cheat and mark the route the night before....

I might cheat and mark the route the night before....
They don't take kindly to your kind of 'marking of the route' up there. Something about public indecency standards.

Any country road with a guard rail, is a good road. :D

Nice Ride Report Hip. It sure was better than mine. Did the Road Race in Spring Prairie, 40 miles, 1 hr 45 min, and one hill I never want to see again. So Aug 4th is written in stone then?

Nice Ride Report Hip. It sure was better than mine. Did the Road Race in Spring Prairie, 40 miles, 1 hr 45 min, and one hill I never want to see again. So Aug 4th is written in stone then?

correct.


(I've gotta stop with the botto impersonation stuff!)

That is, unless it is raining.
If the forecast is solid, then I'll organize a small group that can meet in Elkhorn and do their "Festival of the Bike or summer....or whatever they call it....ride. We could hang at my place for some food after. It's about 15 miles from the ride site.

Hip, I am in (if I am off, will get Aug schedule toward the end of July) let me know what to bring, will positively be slower than everyone else but its a good chance to at least meet everyone.