After a lot of dallying around in Portland, we rolled back to Seattle a bit after lunch today.

We finished in 13'45" with zero drama other than my partner getting into a dehydration/bonk cycle for about an hour during the Hwy 30 stretch. We could have come in sub-13' very easily as we were really riding conservatively and we had the bonk delay. Major props to my ride partner, this was only his fifth ride total of the season! He joined me on three of my road training rides and on long mountain bike ride then went out and did a double century on a hot day. Being a fast marathon runner probably helped...

It was nice to do but I doubt I'd do it again. Too many people and the last section into Portland is pretty bad other than the nice wide shoulder.

The best part of the ride was rolling out about 10min early and cruising down the center of Lk WA Blvd at dawn with the bright pink sunrise over the Cascade with no cars or car noise and only a couple other bikers. Followed closely by the cool finishing tunnel at Lloyd Park with all the cheering people.

The worst part was having to get my bag and get back on my bike and riding a few miles back across the river to my hotel in RiverPlace (which is a nice spot).

Saw a pretty bad accident involving a tandem and RR tracks, it looked like an older woman broke her collarbone from the way they were loading her into an ambulance. Also saw a guy on a high-end carbon bike plow into another guy on a high-end carbon(Cervelo SL I think) and go down in a tangle while pulling into the rest stop at Centralia. Surprised if nothing got broken in that one, funny though...

Then there was the 'large' woman riding with mesh see-through tights and the very visible red thong... Lot's of other kooky bike stuff to be seen for sure.

Congrats to all the other finishers both one & two days!