I wasn't the turtle of the group

Season Miles: 2,145

Tess Corners, 40 miles
16 ave. speed
83 ave. cadence
Cloudy, cool, 58, cold wind 6-15


Happy Thanksgiving!
What?
It sure FELT like Thanksgiving time on this ride this morning. It was cold. How cold was it? I had to remember where I packed away the knicker bibs because I wore them for the first time this season today.

The entire 40 miles saw black clouds and steady wind. Wouldn't you know it...as I pulled into my driveway after the ride the sun finally started to peek through. Oh well, this was no frilly-weather ride. This was a ride for real men cycling! It was Belgium-like out there. (OK, maybe it wasn't THAT bad but you all know I'm a cold-weather riding weenie)

Considering how things looked out my window before the ride I probably would not have even headed out had it not been for a planned ride with Craig Busche today. who had contacted me a couple of times trying to coordinate a ride together. Today would finally be that day.


Craig showed up with a riding bud, Dom, and they wanted to see my Tess Corners route after reading about it here. Off we went.


While these guys look at today's ride pace as an easy spin for their legs I was riding more my normal pace. In other words, once again, I was the weakest of the threesome. But I wasn't the turtle on this day. That's because Craig actually FOUND a REAL turtle on the road and went back to rescue it....I hope.


He dropped back then caught up with us, small turtle in hand searching for the first available creek to release the little guy in. Soon enough we came upon some water and while singing "Born Free" (not really, I made that part up) Craig flung the turtle to the creek. "I think I got him into the water," he said. Onward with the ride.


They seemed to like the route and it is always nice to ride with guys who are rock solid on the road that you can trust.


How in the world I, the heaviest, weakest of the bunch, ended up on the front of the line along much of Sunny Slope on the way back is beyond me. Obviously I don't have these two trained like "Der Jan" and "I Drop You" when I ride with them.

I felt good despite the weather today...nice change of pace being out on the road with a couple of fellow local roadies.