This is why I ride...

After thinking that I never have time to ride, my schedule opened up yesterday afternoon. I planned on taking advantage of the opportunity to maybe ride for 2.5 to 3 hours at most, but if you've ever ridden with me you known this wasn't the case. After about 40 minutes I rode up on another rider, an older gentleman that I've chatted with on numerous occasions. I used to commute to work and I would see him about once or twice a week and we would chat for a few miles or so. I probably haven't seen him since last November and I don't even know his name, but that doesn't keep us from chatting it up, which is probably the best thing about cycling or any other common interest. I think that it's amazing how something so simple, can get complete strangers talking, granted not everyone you meet on the ride is nice, but it's refreshing to come across people like him.

I originally planned on riding to Madison but after going through Social Circle and Rutledge, I realized that I should probably think twice about that. Short on supplies, i.e. absolutely no money or food, just water, I figured I better start to head back when my legs started hurting. I knew that on the way out I was riding with a strong tail-wind but somehow I always fail to realize how much the headwind will suck on the way back, and suck (or blow) it did. The weather went from mild to cold then impending clouds started to roll through and I worried about a chance of rain. Luckily, I was able to inch back home, after about 70 miles and just shy of 4 hours on the bike. Stinger waffles, chocolate milk, and Twizzlers never have tasted so good...until this weekend.