I DID IT!

My second century is in the books. 

Once again I pulled it off with just 60ish miles for the long ride beforehand.  This year seemed easier but it could have been the perfect weather and the lack of monsoons at the end.

Ready to start. I say it was perfect but it was actually quite chilly at the start.

The weather was coolish but not cold for most of the day.  The sun was generally out and the surroundings were stunningly gorgeous.  They had twice as many riders as last year!

One of the first overlooks.  Stunning.

There were options of 25, 50, 70 and 100.  I think 50 may be the most popular.  I am a bit amazed I rode 100 again.  I was telling my husband I saw lots of parties ........graduation, wedding etc.  Then I thought of course I saw lots of parties. I rode by 100 miles worth of yards.

I rode this alone as I did last year.  Last year I had some friends doing it but this year they were all busy.
When I got to the first aid station it was packed as I think all riders go to that one.  Everyone is cheery and full of energy.  It's at about 23 miles. The next one on the 100 mile route was at around 61 so I was glad I had tons and tons plenty of food with me.

A pleasant place to stop and regroup.

There were lots of sailboats out but the wind wasn't bad on the ride.

  I stopped at a bench after I rode around Isle La Motte and ate a snack, reapplied sun screen and checked my phone.

I had another long section along the lake before veering off to the north to a part of the state I am not familiar with. This was pretty enough but no water.  Eventually you come to a huge bridge and you are going down along the lake again.  I got a message that informed me I was now abroad.  Nope.  No passport required to cross the bridge.

At some point in this section a truck came along and asked me if I was doing the 100. Then they said they would wait for me at the rest stop. Why?  I must be last.  I know I'm slow and I don't think many are doing the 100.  When I get there they are picking up the rest stop, all the food is gone although they scrounged some up for me.  The discarded banana peels were such a tease. So I ate more peanut butter and jelly, used the very clean new bathrooms here and continued on my way.  Now the guy from the truck and one other guy were riding.  I went ahead, again much of it along the lake and found the rest stop I missed last  year.  IT.HAD.WATERMELON!  The two guys and I were there. One man appeared to be the sweeper!  

Sometime after this it got hilly.  Last year this section killed me.  I didn't find it that bad this year. Again - the weather really helped!

I was thinking about the burger and beer at the end for about the last 20 miles.  I wasn't dead but man did they sound good.  Trouble was when I got there IT.WAS.ALL.GONE.  I thought it was because I was slow but apparently they ran our for a lot of people. Very disappointing.

This is the beginning of the hilly section.

• Yellow arrows told you the way. I loved seeing these when I wasn't sure I was on the right route.
• No deer jumped in front of me.
• The painted signs in the road were even better.  You knew exactly which way to ride. Different colors were for different length routes.
• I saw this horse and buggy sign 3 times. I saw no horses and buggies. I was not in Amish country. I was not lost.  I don't have any idea why these signs were here.