Three turtles

First of all know two things about this day:
1. I was playing hurt
2. Freakish wind

Memorial Day saw me twist and turn and bend with ax, saw, pole saw and various cutting tools in hand as I cleared brush from our lake place for a couple of hours longer than I should have.

I awoke today sore in places I didn't know I had. But the worst was a barking left hammy. Looking outside the wind was gusting and the forecast was for storms by afternoon.


But I had coordinated a small group to ride today, as 'der Jan' and 'Pack Yak' Rich were to meet me at eleven. Hammy be damned. Forecast be damned. We met. We rode.


Clouds, some hazy sun at times
Windy, warm and humid
80-ish with winds 15-20 mph
Wales and back/40 miles


Rich had never taken the route to Wales with me, so despite dark clouds freaking me out as usual and der Jan calling me a baby as usual, we headed west to show Rich that wonderful route.


On the way out we saw the most awesome turtle ever. The thing was huge, with a tail that looked like it should be on a small dinosaur. I've never seen a turtle that big. But there it was just sitting on the side of the path.


Only a few raindrops at the turn around in Wales and we quickly headed back. Then on the way back we saw another turtle, this one much smaller than the first but still a pretty good sized one.


The third turtle was of course me, although I will say I played through some pain and did 40 miles with a trick hammy and a sore body. Those two started picking up the pace on the way back and I knew that would happen. 18..19...20....21....22.....I'm out, dropped off the back with no spunk in the legs to chase.


Later we did a nice pace line section on the NB trail. I always like doing a pace line and in this case was even able to take a few turns on the front. But for much of this ride I was firmly planted on the wheel of Rich. I also can really appreciate riding with a couple of veteran cyclists whom you can trust to ride inches from on the road.


No Wed. ride because I will be at a media day event at the Milwaukee Mile to interview some of the drivers from the Indy 500 who will be in town on Father's Day weekend for a race here. 


You can hear whatever interviews I do on the Thursday PhilCast show.

Season Miles: 818