Ok, here is the beginning of the Permanent thread I talked about starting last week after I got my first one out of the way for this year. Here is the link to my ride report-

http://randocommute.blogspot.com/2008/04/triple-chainrings-of-fury-vs-giant-gila.html

cool report! sounds like an epic route.

i've yet to do a permanent, but as soon as i do i'll be posting here!

Thanks for starting the thread!

Don't have much in the way of reports to offer on the perms for the season so far. Have three under the belt as I'm taking a shot at the R-12 this year (having started the streak in December '07). Lots of cold, rainy, and windy riding in the PNW. (Never did get around to getting fenders, either....)

Biggest problem I've had on perms is starting on time. Just isn't much motivation to get rolling at the appointed time if it's pretty crappy out. Closest I've come to an on-time departure is 10 minutes late and I had one in January where I got under way more than 45 minutes after the start time. First control was pretty far away and the coffee shop at the start was nice and warm. Made it by 6 minutes. Not the best habit to get into!

did my first permanent (200k) this weekend. pain in the a** getting all the receipts, but it is what it is.

it took the three of us way too long, but we got it done, rain & dark be damned.

more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seabikr/sets/72157608779713204/

fall colors:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3014365805_6615296867.jpg?v=0

we had to detour around this closed/flooded road:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/3014369443_8e62e27011.jpg?v=0

a great stretch of road near north bend, wa:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3015207732_391d371f89.jpg?v=0

I'm up to 20 permanents so far this year with only one duplicate. Last week was a bit of adventure as 14 of us Lone Star Randonneurs rode the point-to-point hot Springs Eternal 200K perm from Texarkana to Hot Springs, AR followed by the Hotter than Hot Springs 200k route back the next day.

Great fun.