Oct 12-14 - milestones

Riding milestones ... passed the Mondial (distance around the earth in accumulated RUSA kms) threshold earlier this year; passed the k-hound (10,000 RUSA kms in year) threshold with the completion of the FL 1000k on the weekend; now have 14x1200+k rides on the books; still having fun !

There were nine riders for the 1000k.  We stuck together until just south of Titusville (35 miles) and then I dropped back.  The others were riding just 1-2 mph faster than I wanted to go.  Someday I'll have to work on that -- they were only going about 18 mph.

I caught up to them at the 1st Control, close to home in NSB, now 80 miles into the ride.  They were still getting organized to leave so I was out of there first.  They soon caught and passed me.

Prior to the next Control, Palm Coast, they passed me again.  It seems that they'd stopped for breakfast !

I left Palm Coast before them and a little while later, they passed me again. 

Prior to hitting the next Control, Palatka, they passed me again.  It seems that they'd stopped for lunch !

I was out of there first -- are you getting the drill here ? -- and they passed me again, then I passed them (someone with a flat), then they passed me again.

The entire day went like that.  I left each Control before they did and later they passed me.  Two of the mini-peloton had dropped off shortly after they stopped for breakfast, so the groups were six riders, me, two riders. 

I got into Tavares, the first night stop, shortly before 11pm.  That's not too bad for 400+k.  The group of six had arrived a few minutes before.  Anthony Parsells had talked to me during the day about when I would be setting out again, but at the time, I said that it depended on when I got in and how I felt.  I felt pretty reasonable but wasn't in a rush, so planned to leave at 2am.  He joined me and stuck with me until after dawn and then rode on.  He's a much faster rider, as you'll see later in this story.

Day two was tough for me.  It was very hot and there were two long stretches without services and I got dehydrated, running out of liquid.  I stopped in Avon Park (city name of Control) at an Arby's for an hour and ate, drank and snoozed.  Now refreshed, I set out again. 

I got to Okeechobee, the next night's stop, around 6pm.  I now had 700kms in the bag.  Anthony was there, having arrived at 4:30 (see, much faster).  He hadn't stopped in Avon Park for an hour !  His plan was to rest a little and leave.  My plan was to get some good sleep and leave.  He left at 6:30; I left at 10pm.  Hey -- a four hour stop is great !  Don't ask how much these hotel rooms cost by the hour !

Anthony finished at 4:30 a.m.for a sub-48-hour total time.  I finished at 11:18, for a time of 54:18 against the time limit of 75 hours ... not too shabby either !  The last 40 miles was a struggle with a strong headwind as I headed north on A1A.  My Garmin died, completely non responsive, about 20 miles from the end.  I was so annoyed !  I lost time fiddling with it, naturally.

The other riders finished in 63:25 and 68:15.  They had taken long sleep breaks leaving at 7am or later.  Of course they got in later too !

All in all, it was a good ride.  I have to investigate the Garmin.  I've got some major bike cleanup to do as well. 

I was back home around 1:30 p.m. -- considering that when I did this ride in 2010 I finished after 3pm, that's pretty good.  I showered and then saw how the tiling was going.  The kitchen is about half finished.  They're moving right along. 

Speaking of which ... they just arrived for the day and I have to go downstairs.  We spent our last night in the condo last night; Abby got her final beach walk this morning.  Kitchen installation has been put off until Thursday, since grouting will be tomorrow.  Everything is sliding right along !

Onward !