Wednesday, August 17, 2011

62 miles

Truly a gorgeous day!

YES!  I rode 62 miles today. My previous longest distance was 47 miles. I skipped right past 50 for my next milestone and went right to 60!  I am very impressed with myself and pleased because it was an excellent ride and day. It could NOT have been more perfect weather - sunny but not hot. (Although I have just discovered  I have a biker shorts tan.  All of a sudden.  Not particularly attractive but it is what it is.)


I rode with 2 friends.  The ride was amazing.  30 miles in Vermont and 30 in New York.  The 30 in Vermont was the prettiest but I took no pictures there. Why?  Not sure.  The ride was through the Champlain Islands with water often on both sides. When there wasn't water it would be farm country.  Totally picturesque.  I really impressed my friends when we started by forgetting my water bottles and having to go back and get them.  Smart woman, AJH.  They could have gone much faster as they both had road bikes but we all agreed we were in no hurry.  We stayed together just fine.
Approaching Rouse's Point Bridge which leads to New York


Looking toward Canada


Canada is only one mile away

When we got through all the beautiful Vermont part we were at the bridge that crosses into New York.  This is the only bridge that crosses Lake Champlain right now.  Your other choices are ferries.  The bridge was probably our biggest hill of the day.  If you're going to do 60 plus miles this was a great route.  Once in New York (actually before) I was noticing how hungry I was. But we were waiting till we got to a good (pretty) place to eat. It took awhile and I was starving.  I wasn't sore or anything but once we stopped I felt a little uncomfortable. I was pleasantly surprised overall at how sore I wasn't. I never got that tired and sore butt I have been getting on most rides.
Stopped for lunch. We may have been on someone's yard but
they were at work and didn't care.




 We stopped one more time for cold water and a bathroom.  A lot of the New York side was also along the lake but then we ended up on a busier road.
Time to bring out the magical Combos


 We went along the lake for the last part although it wasn't on the map we were following.  But I had done it on my previous island rides.
Almost at the ferry

Surprisingly I'm not dead

 Then we hopped on the ferry feeling very happy with our ride and distance.
On the ferry back to Vermont



For two of us it was a new high.  I felt like I could have gone  farther and just generally felt great.

 What a day! 
What a ride! 
What a good time!

25 comments:

Kate Geisen said...

YOU are my hero. I absolutely knew you could do it. Knew it. Way to go...I am so wishing I could come visit and ride with you. So so pretty! Of course, I'd be the one whining about a sore butt.

Unknown said...

Wow! Awesome mileage! I can't wait to get a bike.

MCM Mama said...

So impressive!! You major mileage riders are going to have to give me some bike seat tips LOL.

Paul said...

Almost exactly 100 km!

Great day!

April said...

I'm so jealous looking at those pictures! Makes me want to start biking. :)
62 miles!? You rock!

Jill said...

Woohoooo!! That is a excellent milestone!! Such gorgeous pictures, I truly am in awe as we have NO water like that anywhere even remotely close to me.

A Century isn't too much furter... :) My longest training ride before my Century was only 67!!!

Average Woman Runner said...

WOW! And great scenery, of course. I'm pretty sure that's what my MONTHLY mileage is...DRIVING!

Char said...

Nothing beats a water view. Gorgeous scenery makes it easier to keep going and you've got plenty of that.

Fran said...

What a great and fabulous day. The weather was perfect too.

Congratulations on your new bike distance PR!

Jennifer said...

I love the pictures of the water! Excellent job!

Johann said...

Way to go! I was wondering after I read your blog how far you were going to ride...I thought maybe 55, but 62 is awesome! Well done, you are getting extremely strong on the bike. The photos are beautiful as always. No wonder you love the biking so much.

Kandi said...

What a beautiful area you have to ride and run through. I always love your photos. Gorgeous looking day. Congrats on your PDR!

Darlene said...

It's great that you have friends to ride with. Yes the weather was perfect - I think I saw that from my office window.

HappyTrails said...

Spectacular ride - you may have to rename the blog to AJH Rocks :)

Teamarcia said...

Fantastic ride and beautiful pics! Looks like the perfect day for 62.

Anne said...

What a perfect day! You were so close to my area :) Would love to join you on a ride! :)

Amy said...

Awesome! What a great day!
- and what are magical Combos? - never heard of these...

A Prelude To... said...

"I felt like I could have gone farther and just generally felt great."

AWESOME!!!!! What a way to end new longest distance ride!

Marlene said...

Wow, that's 100K! Congrats on the milestone and it sounds like you felt GREAT doing it!!!

Karen said...

62 miles and beautiful pictures as always! What would a girl do without her magical combos?

Tricia said...

Congrats on 60 miles!! That is awesome. And what beautiful pictures. So lovely.

Christy Ashley said...

62 miles??? That's AWESOME! By the way, thanks for the recommendation on Title 9 bras! I just ordered one and they look fantastic!

LookingUpAgain said...

Amazing ride and distance! You really are superwoman on a bike! :)

royal said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Alisa said...

Way to go! You really have improved miles on the bike (pun intended).

1 mile to canada that is NORTH!

Ready for a century yet???? Find one in the middle and I'll fly there and meet ya (when I get out of the boot of course)