Yes, it's yet another first century thread... But, I'm still excited about it, and wanted to share. Sorry

Short version: Snohomish, WA to Arlington to Clear Lake, around west through farmland, back to Arlington and Snohomish. Beautiful sunny but not too hot day. 108 miles, 6:53 on the bike, around 8 hours total.

Long version: after feeling good on several mid-distance rides (40-60 miles), including rides with lots of hills, I felt like tackling the challenge of a century to see how I did. I plotted out a route that was not too challenging on either the terrain or the navigation end. I started at the Centennial Trail in Snohomish, and took it up to Arlington. It's a lovely tree-lined MUP with little traffic and beautifully smooth pavement--if it weren't for the f$%king obstacle course gates they put up at a number of intersections, it would be an ideal MUP. I suppose navigating them was a good bike-handling skill builder for me, but by mile 107 I was really over them...

After the Centennial Trail I got on Hwy 9 north towards Sedro-Wooley which had enough hills and twist and turns to make me feel like I was accomplishing something, and enjoy some fun descents, but not so much to make me suffer unduly (no, I haven't drunk the rando Kool-Aid yet...).

Then I picked up on a section of an SIR permanent (http://permanents.seattlerando.org/2...ivers-v-2.html) (note how it's advertised for its flatness...) to loop out and back from Clear Lake to Arlington. I was lucky that there was almost no wind, and it was nice to just keep up a steady pace for a while, but I will admit the flat started to get a little boring... After all, what has to go up also gets to come down...

From Arlington, just the Centennial trail back to Snohomish (f$%king obstacle course gates), and a long 8 miles from "Hooray, I did a century!" to "Hooray, I'm at my car!" On the way home I stopped at a gas station and for the first time truly understood what a beautiful thing it is that in this country you can get a 32oz cup of deliciously cold ice and soda for just over a dollar. I love America

Things I'm still happy about:
--I felt comfortable and within my limits. At the end I was going about the same speeds as I was in the beginning.
--I finally christened my bike by falling off of it... It had to happen some time, so I'm glad to have that over with. Everything still works (on me and the bike) and I have a couple awesome bruises to show off (though one I can only show off to *good* friends...)
--Wait a minute--I started riding at the end of June and I just did a solo century--crazy!

At any rate, it was a lot of fun and an exciting challenge to put to myself. No pics because I'm lame and didn't take my camera.