May 6,7,8 - Dawsonville 400k

Always a challenge; always a sense of accomplishment ...

We had good weather, albeit cool to start at 43F and, with so much climbing, a challenge to stay warm, then cool, then warm, etc.  In the heat of the day on the climb to Highlands NC, it was over 80.  That climb, 12 miles, was the toughest part for John.  He ran out of water, bonked and walked part of the way.  He recovered nicely though, after a sit-down Subway sandwich and we hit the road again, descending from the cool to the warmth.

We took longer than I'd guessed, but we weren't pressed for time.  At 262 miles, that extra 14 miles over the 400k affords no extra time allowance, ACP rules, but it sure makes a difference.   

So ... an 8 hour drive up, a 26 hour ride, 8+ hours drive back ... quite the weekend.  The GA rides are great; it's too bad that they're so far away.

We had the largest crowd that I've ever seen on this ride - 7.  One rider DNF'd that I know of.  Two riders finished behind us but they couldn't have been too far behind.

When we got back to Dawsonville we went to the Super 8 and tuned in our cards, rode back to our hotel.  I showered, made coffee and went to Mass.  John caught a half-hour snooze.  We hit the road back just after 10am.  We made a fuel stop, a couple of rest area stops and a Starbucks stop.  I dropped John off at a parking lot in Jacksonville; his wife Nancy was due to pick him up in a few minutes.  She was in Jacksonville looking after her Dad, so that worked nicely.

After about a half-hour driving we stopped and I handed the wheel over to John.  I then slept for a half-hour, we traded back and I was good until I got home at 6:45 p.m.   That half-hour deep sleep is huge.  Having someone to talk with is also key !

Jason et al had arrived, of course, at our place.  We chatted and dined; I hit the sack and didn't wake up until 4:45 this morning.  They pulled out of here just after 6am, heading north to Brantford.

Onward !