This weekend I dragged out my local map and began making a cue sheet for a custom good time. There's a lake about twelve miles from home and I was hoping to go there, have a quick picnic brunch, and head for home.

As it turns out, I had made a wrong turn after about the second step of my cue sheet. I thought that I was familiar with the area, but it turns out that I was familiar with the busier roads I had driven on and wanted no part of those. So I kept going figuring I'd run into something that looked familiar, sooner or later.

Several miles later I see water, but I'm on a different side of the lake than earlier planned. Not wanting to turn around (that sort of stuff is for quitters) I kept going, figuring I'd just ride around the lake. It's no great lake, but it sure added a lot more miles that I wasn't counting on.

I finally made it to the lake's public landing and had my brunch; it was delicious. After eating, I started making my way home. The heat was rising and I had developed a slow leak. I opted to wait until I got home to fix the leak and luckily made it home with just a couple of refills.

After getting home and tracing where I had gone, I realized that I had pretty much taken the route that I was hoping to work my way up to. So much for testing the waters. I was hoping to go a little further, but the heat and leak persuaded me to go home.

Still, by the time it was all said and done, I put in 40 miles with an AVG SPD of 15.7 (my personal best ). I hope my next wrong turn turns out to be as rewarding.

LOL, sounds like a great ride, I've always found that the "best" rides I've been on, weither on bicycle or motorcycle have been the one's where I got "lost" and had to wonder around to find my way back home!

Nothing like being out really far so you are "forced" to ride to get back home. Sounds like a great ride. Congrats!!

40 is milestone I'm trying to work to myself.

Good thing you didn't get kidnapped and eaten by a couple of mutant brothers.....(anyone see that flick?)