So, I rode to and from work in McBaine on Thursday and Friday, Aug 30 & 31, just to make sure this would be doable. This gave me about 30 miles each day with riding to work and to school with the kids.

I was much smarter on Friday, than I had been on Thursday. I ate protien with breakfast. I took more high carb snacks, a Camelback, and Propel packets to mix with my water during the day. I wore track shorts and packed my work clothes. I took my ipod. The Friday ride was much more pleasant than Thursday’s had been.

The morning ride was still faster and easier than the afternoon ride. Seems my afternoon rides are just going to be about 5 minutes longer than the morning ones. This makes sense, as the mornings are cooler, and I have not been working out in the heat all day yet. Once again, I could feel myself bonking, struggling to pedal (Again with the flat tire thing? Can a tire be flat and round at the same time?) a and fantasizing about chocolate and ice cream somewhere around Forum Blvd (They should really put an ice cream stand in that parking lot).

I was prepared this time, I had packed an energy bar where I could reach it and eat it while riding. Like the Tour de France guys...I’m so smart, I smiled to myself. I reached down for my strategically placed energy bar and began to unwrap it with my left hand and my teeth. I put it up to my mouth to take a bite and...dropped it – Crap! Note to self: " Practice unwrapping and eating snacks on the bike. Keep experimenting with calorie and carb amounts to find steady burn level."

On the ride back, I had some chaffing issues. A had worn track shorts with briefs..stupid, I know. I realize that padded bike shorts would probably be the ideal and sensible choice. However, due to a tragic injury I suffered a few years back during the MS150, which left me unable to sit on my right buttock for two weeks, I hate them. Note to self: "No more briefs under shorts. Keep experimenting."

I arrived at school, my neck and shoulders were killing me, my hands were sore, and my seat was sore as well. I picked up the kids and we rode straight home. I just wanted to be home.

I was happy it was Friday. I could pretty much avoid the bike over the weekend, giving me time to recover before having to make this ride again.

It was Labor Day weekend. On Friday evening we talked about what to do over the weekend. We decided to go camping, at Katfish Katy’s in Huntsdale, which is two miles past McBaine...so much for my recovery time. Well, it would give me an opportunity to work out some of my seating issues.

Saturday morning, we borrowed a bike trailer. Thanks Karl, you’re the best! We packed up the tent, the fishing poles, the sleeping bags, the pillows, the lovey guys, the clothes, the pots, and the food, and headed out on our bikes.

Having started riding her own bike in June, this was Annarose’s first time riding to Huntsdale. We were prepared to take a few hours to get there with frequent stops. We stopped for one break and made it in an hour and a half. Good job Posey!

I made a smarter choice of shorts, essentially paddless/seamless bike shorts, and had a pretty good ride. Tim and I both had our bikes fully loaded with bike carts and panniers. We rode at an easy pace. It was really fun making the ride with Tim and the kids. We arrived around 4:30 and set up camp - aaah.