I had two goals for the day: 1) Don’t throw up and 2) Finish the damn ride.

I was successful at both. Somehow I even knocked 2 hours off of my last 200K’s time on top of all of that. A large part of that was thanks to a relatively easy course and a large group of strong riders at the start that were able to drag my butt into Sedro Wooley in record time. I looked at the clock on our first control and realized that if I could keep pace, we could finish in 6 hours or so. That was pretty much a joke, and I knew it right away. I would never be able to keep that kind of pace, but it was a fun thought.

Our group made some lame attempts at a double paceline that kept snapping off at every incline and decline. Still, I maintained it for as long as I could. We hit a little hill that was short but steep and I snapped off the back pretty fast. I made sure that I was riding within myself and no further, so I let them go off without making a chase attempt.

I was surprised shortly thereafter to find Chris pulled over with a flat. I had been pretty anxious for a nature break anyways, so I stopped and gave him some rando moral support. We stuck together for the rest of the day.

The route took us along 3 or so beautiful lakes headed out to Bellingham (starting and finishing in Arlington). There were some nice little risers (no serious climbing for the day), and some very fun extended descents.

We picked up Don Boothby before getting on to (gorgeous) Chuckanut Dr. and played leap frog with him for the remainder of the day. Every time we would pass a cow (and frankly, that was often), Don would scream at it to give him cream or a t-bone or something. It was amusing and a little frightening. Thanks for the entertainment, Don. He stopped for pie near La Conner and we lost him for a little bit.

Chris and I stopped for the daffodils (thanks, Cecil!) that grow near Mount Vernon just before the annual tulip festival. We got some artsy fartsy photos and enjoyed the breather for a moment.

Don latched back on to our mini group just in time to watch a bunch of migrating snow geese take flight directly over our heads. I’m guessing there were a couple thousand of them, and they all seemed to have to take a dump. It was quite literally raining poop all around us. We were all doing our best to not look up (or smile) and were relieved to not get hit.

Don caught back up pretty shortly after that, followed by Pat Lahey and one other rider (sorry, I’m spacing on your name).

We all suffered through vicious side and head winds for the last 50K. I knew they were coming, but it made the whole process no less fun. I’m pretty sure I was the slowest of the bunch. Any time the winds hit me from the side, it felt like riding through quicksand. In the last 3 or 4 miles, Pat and I lost the group entirely. Chris and Don waited at a light so we could all roll in together (thanks!). All in all, it was a wonderful ride. Thanks to Matt and Dan and everyone for the support.