I survived

~
I survived RAPSody (Ride Around Puget Sound-Tacoma-Gig Harbor-Olalla-Southworth-Manchester-Allyn-Shelton-Yelm-Dupont-Steliacoom-University Place and back to Tacoma)

I’m home, I’m alive, all body parts work and are still attached.

I am no longer shivering violently, my lips and fingernails are no longer blue and I can feel my toes.

I’m way too tired to post a proper update, but here are a few bullet points.

I should never be allowed to use the delete feature on my camera while out drinking beer. (that’s why the video, when I get around to it will only be of day two)

The route was challenging, beautiful and well thought out.

We still climbed 9,600 feet, yes, that’s NINE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED feet.

The first day (out on the Peninsula which is tough “hillstep” riding was the hardest, and the second day a bit shorter and easier. (all except that relentless nasty climb out of Steilacoom to Chambers Bay which sucks ass, especially in driving rain)

My legs are not amused.

My butt is not amused.

Calzones at the lunch stop in Allyn WA, the BEST ride food ever. Vegetarian Indian Curry Wraps the second day in Yelm? Not so much (so I stopped at Taco Bell in Lacey first because my legs wanted MEAT)

A smaller, more challenging ride attracts a much better class of rider (not rude, not doing stupid/dangerous things) than a huge popular ride.

This ride was WAY better than any “big” ride I’ve been on.

A group of cyclists entering “Ernie’s Fir Cone Bar and Grill” in Shelton Washington draws a LOT of stares from the locals (it’s an old logging town) We had a GREAT time, and got out when the crowd started to turn. (that would be when the police arrived to take away a Charles Manson look alike)

The maintenance staff at Shelton High School managed to keep the sprinklers on the field from turning on at 2:00 AM when we were camping there. (don’t laugh, it’s happened before; but it’s OK, I had my rain fly on)

The 3.5 inch REI Self Inflating Camp Mattress is the BEST camp bed ever!!! (unless of course you’re backpacking because you really wouldn’t want to carry it, but if someone else is hauling it for you, it’s the BEST)

We got to ride on I-5 for a short time, and we passed a car or two (traffic sucks)

The rain unleashed in epic proportions during the last 30 miles of the ride.

I need to learn how to wear rain gear when I ride (it makes me overheat, so I don’t, and in this case, I got seriously hypothermic at the end; It’s wet and cold here, I need to accept that)

I did do VERY well with eating and hydration. I ate and drank what I needed before I needed it and felt good the whole time.

Cyclists are GREAT people!

Cycling events are GREAT FUN!

I am going to take a rest day tomorrow.

That’s right, R-E-S-T.

But now, I’m going to get ready for an early bed time.

~L