July came up way too fast. I am busy prepping both of our bikes for this weekend.

I know Jane isn’t too excited about having a sore butt (among other things). We were playing around with her saddle, but nothing is really sticking just yet. It has been kind of stressful handling it all at the last minute, but that is the way we roll sometimes. I’ve had my head in the clouds with other bike related things, the 100K and le Tour. When did all of this sneak up on me?!

Chris and I are shooting for one day this year just to say we did it. Truth be told, I’ll probably cut back to two days after this year. I really love the camping/dinner experience of the two day event. Last year was hours in the beer garden with Tour de France on the big screen. I’m not nervous about finishing it at all, but I am a little concerned that my legs will cooperate so I don’t hold anyone back. I don’t really want to get in to Portland after dark if I can avoid it.

That brings up another issue that tends to plague us on STP… getting to the start line. The traffic is always insane and we have yet to start before 7am. Were I solo, I would just ride to the start, but as a couple we have all of our gear and tent and blah blah blah. Getting near the University Village is a freaking nightmare. We are trying to secure a bed closer to the start this year, but that is pretty tentative right now. Best case scenario, I’d like to be out of the gates at or before five.

Our Fourth of July weekend was pleasant. Some family was in from Houston and San Diego so we spent some time at a BBQ and tried to stay out of trouble.

Our whole neighborhood goes completely insane for fireworks this time of year. They usually start about a week early, and this time was no exception. Saturday was especially insane. There were multiple sonic booms leveled really close to the house. Some kids were shooting at the buses and others were running around like they were high on pixie sticks. I enjoy the s’plosions too (I’m American damnit), but things seem a little crazier than they used to be when I was younger. Maybe the difference was just in California’s fireworks laws.