Feb 10/11 - a tough one, what's new ?

I'm always saying that the current/latest ride is one of the toughest that I've done.  Well, I'm saying it again.  The month off the bike coupled with very little activity (climbing wasn't strenuous), sitting around in airplanes and jeeps and last buy not least, unknown effects from Diamox and Malarone ...

I haven't had muscle cramps in years.  On the 300k, every time I pushed, my calves and quads would cramp in opposing directions.  Not only that, but I'd cramp in other places at the same time -- back, hands, arms -- I got an extreme amount of exercise without even moving !  My muscles are still sore from all that work !

It took 200k before the cramping stopped.  After that, I was still very careful as once a cramping session started, it took quite a while to work through it.

I had good riding company in Paul, Judith and Bruce Ivy.  I was the slow guy most of the day.  I usually make that up in less time at stops but not when I'm sticking with others.  A good example -- I wanted to stop at the 7-11 in Titusville for a drink with substance; we stopped, I was in and out having downed my smoothie before the other three organized themselves to go in, taking off helmets etc.  10 minutes later we rode on.  Well, c'est la vie.  I appreciated the stop and they all did too but someone has to ask :).

We started the ride at 6am and finished just after 9pm; I was home by 10:30.  I could hardly extricate myself from the car, I was so sore.

Yesterday was a quiet one -- recovery, still occasionally taking benadryl with allergic reactions that I'm having from something that range from sinus to rash.  I'm hoping that today's malaria meds, the last pill required, will put an end to all that, i.e. stopping.

The gutter guys said that they'd be here by 7:30 and sure enough, when I got back from Mass, they were already at work.  Jim is on his way over to unload and help move his trailer. 

Onward !