Wednesday, August 12, 2009

...a different sort of ride

I'm glad I was able to go to North Bend this weekend. It was fun, as always, to hang out with my cycling buddies Kathie and Bob. But it was a different ride, one we probably won't mark on the calendar for next year. The pancake breakfast was edible. The scenery was beautiful. The people were friendly. But...

We didn't get more than 10 miles away from town in the first two hours. (Up one mountain road and back down again, up another, and back down again.) And in those two hours they had a rest stop every 7-10 miles--more than needed. So they faked us out. We thought the whole ride would be like that. Finally, finally we headed out of town on a 50 mile loop. And guess what? The support ended. Nada. Zip. Zero. A porta-potty on a construction site got lots of use--we were mighty glad to come upon it. Thankfully, the weather was overcast and cool so we didn't go through our water quickly, but by the time a rest stop did appear, we were running on empty.
In spite of it all, the three of us had some laughs. This picture is for Scott. Last week on a group ride we were hustling our butts to get back in because it really started to rain. Kathie and Bob heard Scott yell, "Hey! That's sweet corn! We could stop and pick some!" And he meant it. So on Sunday we just had to stop and take a picture of Kathie picking sweet corn.

6 comments:

The Old Bag said...

Too funny! I thought you were joking about making a "pit stop" of a different sort in the corn field!

Likewise I did a ride a couple years ago that I haven't been back to because the support disappeared.

Doozyanner said...

We were beginning to think we'd have to take a nature break out in a field and were very glad to see that porta potty! We're hoping they follow up with a survey so we can give them our two cents about what needs to be fixed for next year. Our guess is that the organizing committee is not made up of cyclists.

Leslie Morgan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Leslie Morgan said...

Hey, Dooz ~ Long distance walkers sometimes find it difficult to locate facilities, too! I am not fond of using the great outdoors, but I've been known to do so. I sure know all the marginal places in fast food restaurants, gas stations and parks in a 15 mile radius!

Comment: I recently clicked on your button "My Folks and What They Do". I nearly fainted. Ex and I were avid miniaturists. We attended all the conventions, invented some of our own tools, etc. I've made countless mini-quilts, drapes, rugs. Lovely pastime! I've often thought I'd like to do it on my own, but I don't move that forward. The activity seems to require that Ex be in the mix, or I don't progress.

And finally, I've commented to the Badger on several occasions that certain cycling events need to be better organized. (He agrees.) I've suggested myself as organizer of the world. So my spin on it is that some cyclists are not good organizers and some organizers wouldn't have to be cyclists.

Doozyanner said...

Limes, my dad's favorite line is that he's a small-minded person. I'm always amazed by the intricate, miniscule furniture he creates. He can measure anything and come up with a mini version of it. Not my thing at all, but I am in awe of my parents' creativity.

Leslie Morgan said...

It's for really precise, detail-oriented people. Some people aren't precise enough and their creations look clunky or out of proportion. Those who have the talent, though, produce some beautiful things. Ex used to electrify our houses so the lamps glowed and the ceiling fans turned. We had a porcelain family with the faces made to look like the 3 of us, cats that looked like our cats . . great fun for a family to enjoy together.