more bread.... more ice.... more water!

mostly descending to the next (4th/1st) rest stop.....

i REALLY don't remember seeing anything fly in front of me when i took this.... maybe it's a UFO!



back by lake henshaw...... then..... the climb up THAT hill on mesa grande.... ya.... it was everything i thought it was going to be..... plus it had started to heat up by then..... a LOT of people were stopping along the way when they'd come to a shady area..... i even stopped near the top cuz i could hear my "blood pumping/heart beating" in my ears (does that make sense) so i stopped in the shade til it stopped..... got back on the bike and continued on.... there was a headwind... and for once i was happy to have it... it felt good! i passed a gal who was walking... and she asked "is that the top?" i said "i don't know... but i hope so!" (it was... just ahead!)

i continued on.... passed and moo-d at the cows! lol!



then.... about 5 miles out.... i got a flat.... &(&^(^*( ^^)^%)& %%(*&^(*&^ well.... at least there was a shade tree.... i stopped there and the gal came up and asked if i needed help... i told her if she wanted an excuse to stop in the shade.. then sure thing! :cool: we got my tire changed... in the meantime... a friend of her's came by... i guess checking on her? and they had a pump.... so i saved a CO2.... however... i guess he thought i didn't have a pump.... cuz i found out when i got back... he was telling them he "rescued" someone with a flat who didn't have a pump! oh well! :cool:

after that.... about 5 miles left.... another small climb.... then the last descent to the finish line!

they had a nice sign set up! of course i had to be a ham!



and a nice pic, too!



i checked in.... got my t-shirt... and ate some GREAT dudley cookies! (they make great bread.... great bars... and great cookies, too! i'm glad i don't live near them!)

we sat around talking.... nice group of people... tony.. the organizer is VERY nice and VERY receptive to suggestions/recommendations!

we were in a REAL cow pasture... and i wanted pics of the cows.... there were 3 near... but by the time i got around to taking pics.... only one was left.... i walked out to her... and when i got too close... she took off running away from me....



i stopped walking.... so she stopped... and looked at me.....



isn't she cute!!!!!**********?

then we headed home!

we hit anza and saw smoke! oh no! they had just had a small fire earlier in the week (same day as the sawtooth started, i think!) we climbed a rock to watch... didn't see flames... but saw the water-dropping airplane.... ) too many