This was the first day of our bikestravaganza weekend — two full sized rides in two days, to start getting used to longer rides for our planned tour in the summer.

This was also Anne’s first real ride with her new Surly Disc Trucker. She picked it up from the shop yesterday. Sounds a more womanly seat is in order, but otherwise she’s happy.

Going up the big hill was tough with the kiddie trailer. Fortunately, just when I thought I was about to die, Anne offer to take it. Haha, sucker. Of course, I finished the climb still thinking I was going to die, just with a lighter load. There was a Team in Training group that passed us on the way up, but at least they were impress at us dragging up the trailer.

The descent was fun, as always. Some blind turns, but not much traffic.

Ruth had fun with water. At some point we let her keep one of our water bottles with her in the trailer. When we next checked on her, she had squeezed the entire bottle out onto her pants and the bottle of the trailer. Anne had the bright idea of using a diaper to soak up the water. Then, at the park at the top of the climb, she thoroughly soaked herself with the doggy faucet. It was a hot day, so we just let it be.

Animal sightings: cows, horses, a chicken, a turkey, a turkey vulture, a red winged black bird, ducks, ponies, and a snake trying to get out of a canal.

Mechanical problems: None!

Most interesting roadside debris: A silk blouse.