Sunday, April 27, 2014

All Vacation Rides Can't Be Great

Vacation continues!!

I think I talked a little about the people I am biking with. There is only one that I bike much with at home very often. Two of them are VERY fast, two are medium fast and then there is me.  Really.  I am not being modest.  I try to go faster than usual but not die.  I try not to get way behind. People wait at turns.  But I am very conscious of holding everyone up.  The last couple of days though everyone has gotten to do a little more at their pace.
This is looking off a bridge we rode over, the only "hill".


The woman in orange is amazingly fast and strong. She is going
to be entering a race here in June that goes over
4 gaps. One has the steepest paved mile in the US.  She is 
a fairly new biker.  


C and I discovered this mailbox while lost. Isn't it the best ever?

The third day was my hard day.  I was tired and it was so hot when I am not used to it at all.  It was 87 degrees which is a big jump from what we've had.  We drove to Virginia Beach and rode south of it on flat country roads.  I prefer rolling hills for a little variety.  Truly.  I was dragging fairly early on in the ride and rumor had it, it might be an 80 miler.  Thank goodness, it wasn't.  It turned out to be just less than 50.  I had some points where I questioned that I would make it. Then we got lost and the thought of turning around and repeating any of it just about sent me over the edge. After consulting a map (handy thing) we figured out an easy connection! Thank goodness! I drank both my water bottles on the ride and immediately bought a huge bottle of water when we were done. I downed it and still didn't have to pee.  Oops. Dehydrated maybe?  I wasn't the only one.

Then it was time to go to the beach to enjoy some sun and sand.  I am not much of a sit in the sun person but I love the waves and sand.  Then it was time to get some seafood.

This doesn't look like my beloved Maine beaches.

But the ocean is the ocean.



My first crab cakes.  


13 comments:

christa said...

Funny how the same ocean looks so different Maine to Fort Lauderdale...

Amy said...

wow - that's quite some training you're doing on your vacation! Glad you get some down time on the beach and have the right temperatures to be able to enjoy it!

Ransick said...

Sounds like a nice vacation. Those crab cakes look delicious!

Giorgio said...

Those picture show that the Spring weather is perfect there. Easy to see you're enjoying your vacation.
Wonderful beaches! With regard to the sixth picture, how could someone make those big buildings close to the ocean?

Char said...

That sounds like it was incredibly tough. But you survived it!

I'm often the slowest in the group that I run with and that's usually okay for the first 15 or so kilometres. When we get to the last 5 k the others put their foot on the accelerator and leave me eating their dust. And that's fine too because at least I know where I'm going. It's a different story when you're doing it in a new location.

Laurie said...

Glad to hear you are still having a great vacation. How did you like the crab cakes?

Jill said...

How does a teacher get vacation in APRIL? Holy cow, I am up to my eyeballs in kids' crap! But sounds like an awesome vaca so far and I love that you're getting your bike groove on. I'd just about do anything to sit at the beach right now...

Enjoy! :)

Fran said...

Just keep enjoying yourself! It's not your "fault" they are faster, don't feel guilty.

Darlene said...

Still sounds like a great vacation. I feel that way out on the tennis courts most times. I am the weak link. Running has been given priority to tennis.

Teamarcia said...

You plan the best vacays! I could really use 87 degrees about now. Even if it's way too hot for running, it'd be fab for everything else.

Michael said...

87 sounds awesome! Well maybe not for a long bike, but in general. I love the beach so much. Way to stay super active on vacation!

HappyTrails said...

It may have been a rough day on the bike but wow! what a beautiful ride! 87 sounds good right now but you are right - we would probably melt b/c it would be too hot. Loving the beach scenes - from sand to food! Have fun!!! :-)

Johann said...

Beautiful indeed! You can be very proud of the distances you've covered. Well done!