Day 7 - 52 miles / 2??? Ft of climb

Well it is over and I am back home, warm and snug in my comfy bed with my memory foam and pillow.

I am thrilled to report that we are all EFI. Janie and I logged in around 509 miles.

Yesterday's ride was short and beautiful. We all stayed up and drank too much on Thursday night. It was probably a blessing in disguise that the weather was too cold for hanging out in the wine garden each night since we cannot resist temptation. We were all feeling the alcohol on our final day of riding. No energy to our legs as the day progressed. We all felt listless and so glad it was flat and nearly over.

Waking up in the morning cold was again so miserable. Jett decided to forego the chill you to the bone breakfast dining in the tent. It worked because she was a powerhouse in our paceline all morning. Janie and Cathy also were super solid, as was our new friend Dan. I'm still taking it easy.

Our rest stops were both at wineries. Gorgeous!!! Then back at camp for the big finish with cheering crowds, etc., (including some tired belly dancers). I experienced some ocular moisture at that point. Jett and Janie were dry as a bone and so glad to be done.

Then we met up with Cathy at the dining for our final meal together and our good-byes. Janie and Jett loved my RAGBRAI sister and want to ride with her again.

Then our last mobile truck shower and the long drive home. We all took turns at the wheel. At 10 PM we had an hour to go and Jett was flagging. I plugged my iPod into the car speakers and blasted our favorite singalong tunes. Poor Janie.

Got home by 11, unloaded bikes and bags. Pet the cats. Today we pick up Max the dog!!

We all had a great time, but were way too cold and very uncomfortable in our tents. We highly recommend this as a must-do as a cycling vacation, but none of us will do it again.

Next year: Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. One week, over 50,000 feet of climbing (twice what we did here) and staying in hotels!!!!

Day 6 Photos

We set the alarm for 5 AM for a 7 PM start. Cannot tell you how cold the reported 47 degrees felt. Rolling up and packing a tent wet with condensation for the 4th day in a row is no fun.

I've posted a photo of my weird inner thigh swelling. (Yeah, I got a lot of grief about my "swelling.". Everyone else claimed to have swellings all over their bodies. Mostly Oreo cookie induced swellings.

I've also posted a photo of how close they pack "tent city." We met a honeymooning couple in tent city. There us zero privacy in tent city!!! Can you imagine????

I'm about to grab some dinner. We are working on bottle #2 of wine. It's warm enough to sit in the beer garden tonight and enjoy the band. Whoi-hoo!!!

Day 6 - 79.4 miles / 5670 ft of climb

I did it!! Awesome gorgeous day! Freezing cold in the AM (Jettie was not pleased), gorgeous sun came out and warmed us up. We had 2.5 major climbs. I just spun my way easy and slow. Worked like a charm. No pain and no further muscle injury.

Gotta run - meeting with my CO family in the wine garden! Will post photos later!!!

Day 5 in the acupuncture tent

So I'm blogging from a tent, lying here with a bunch if needles in my thighs. I'm pretty covered up to keep warm, but was able to snap a shot of my outer right thigh. I also have a single needle in my foot and my scalp. Crazy!! I've never dine acupuncture. Desperate times...

Yes, I am injured. "Muscle break-down" is what I have. Hurts like hell and takes a couple of days of rest to recover. But I don't have a rest option. Tomorrow is the hardest day of Cycle Oregon. 85 miles and over 5500 ft of climb. The SAG wagon costs $50. I've only SAG'd twice in my entire cycling career: once when my friends, Cynthia & Jose crashed and were severely injured. Thus was on the XC08 criss country tour when we had 70-100mph side gusts. Then I SAG'd the next day when a gust if wind blew me right off the road. The only thing that stopped me was a manzanita bush. If it weren't there, I wonder where I'd end up. Anyhow after that I SAG'd the last 20 miles.

Since they highly discourage SAGing if you can still ride, my plan for tomorrow is to go slow and easy. If climbing hurts too much I will walk my bike uphill (horribly humiliating, but anything to prevent further injury when we have Levi's Gran Fondo on Oct 1st ).

We lost our new friend Brad today ge has a family situation and had to leave today. What a great guy.

The highlight if my day was riding in the luggage cart to our camping spot! In each town the local football team comes out to carry our luggage from the baggage truck to our campsite for a tip. It's a great way to make money for the team in these tiny towns. Today Jett asked if they could lug us and our bags! Next thing you know we are on a crazy ATV ride with a young teen driving. Loved it!!!

Am also posting our celebratory end if ride chocolate milk photo. Wish me luck tomorrow!!!

Day 5 - 61.9 miles / 1795 ft of climb

Weather: great
Route: beautiful
Pavement: smooth
Elevation gain: minimal
Distance: short
Effort: tremendous

It's official. My "bad day" yesterday is really due to some sort of injury I've given myself. My legs are totally swollen. I cannot climb without serious pain and I have no power.

Will post some photos later.

Day 4 - 68.2 miles / 2709 ft of climb

Well Janie had her bad day on Monday. Jett had her bad day yesterday. Today was my bad day. I foolishly allowed myself to become dehydrated by not drinking enough post-ride yesterday. (dang I rode strong yesterday...) Anyhow this AM I started out on another cold foggy morning. I always feel not so great until I have about 15 miles in. Today we has our first little climb at 5 miles. I cannot describe how painful that was on my legs. Then during the next climb my legs literally felt like they were made of stone. Once I realized I was dehydrated I drank a lot and hoped to feel better after lunch.

Thank heavens the sun came out today. We've been freezing non-stop since Monday. Today's ride south on 101 was lovely in the sunshine. The Oregon coast is beautiful. We rode out to a light house, then further south to our lunch stop. Had my bike serviced again as my shifter cable was all stretched out. Jay, the owner of Bike Gallery worked on Bella Blue. Having Bike Gallery here every day to provide free service is the bomb.

After lunch we had only 29 flat miles back to camp. Easy, right? Should have been, but not with the wicked relentless head wind we had every inch if the way. The only word for it: brutal. Happily my legs were working again and I felt better, even in the wind.

Had a 60-min massage tonight. Much needed. Time to hit the bag. Up tomorrow at 5:15.

Pre-Day 4 Freezing in Bandon

We all froze in our tents last night. There was a great band playing, but too cold for me to be outside. Tonight there is a bicycle rodeo at 8:00. Hope I can find enough clothes to wear to attend. Perhaps I will add my sleeping bag as a capelike accessory?

Sad to say the weather looked perfect at the beginning of the week and now we are in a cold and foggy 5-day ordeal.

The cycling and friends are fun, however!

Day 3 - 77 miles 4000 ft of climb

Well overall Janie and I had a great day. Janie broke her Sept 13th cycling curse, so we are happy about that. Jett had a hard time warming up and was fairly miserable all day. The weather was cold and foggy/cloudy all day as we road south on highway 101 along the coast. She hates this PNW weather, which is why she left Whidbey Island.

We are now in Bandon for 2 nights. Yay we get a one-day break from pitching our tents!!!

Gonna head in for dinner. Tummy is rumbly for food!