Ridin'Ard

Today Julie got up at 6:30 for a women’s ride and Jaron did laundry. Because this is how we have fun. Jaron also demo’d a Tiger 1200 Rally Pro as he is getting BPO (Bike Paid Off) syndrome. When he met up with me in the evening he said he went on a dangerous demo. He didn’t look hurt or scuffed up so I was like…financially dangerous? 

Here is our riders’ meeting around the portajohn, lol. 

Julie’s ride was great and uneventful. I opted for the more “spirited” wave and ended up right behind the same ride leader as yesterday again. On Wednesday at the warm-up ride I’d let her know the pace for the gravel & dirt roads was a little fast for me, but I felt a lot better by the end, plus I had training yesterday, so I felt like that was the right wave for me today and it was. Apparently today she was intentionally getting me more comfortable with speed on the easy dirt and gravel roads. When I dropped back, she would drop back and slowly work up more speed. Victoria from SheADV rocks! By the end of the ride I realized that I was doing 50 on one of the easy dirt roads. 

Our group today was well-matched, all at the same skill level. There was a gravel switchback that I clutch-walked, and a turnaround that I had to stop on and clutch-walk. But if I’d stayed standing up I think I would have been able to do the turnaround. And I still haven’t dropped my bike on this trip yet! ⁉️ I’m sure it will happen tomorrow on the intermediate ride. 

We got pizza for lunch and then ended the ride at this ice cream place. 

A guy on an ADV bike stopped at the ice cream place and asked if we were with the rally. Apparently he’d gotten separated from his group and didn’t have a map or gps to find his way back. Most everyone else was getting gas after and I said I was going straight afterwards if he wanted to follow me. So I rescued this guy. 🤣

Jaron & I got dinner at Samarai Comfort Food, which was better than either of us expected it to be. Then we went back for the women’s bonfire. Some guys had just started it and left, and there was a teeny tiny grassfire spreading on a dry patch of grass! I got a board and put it out, and that became my job for the night. Apparently there is a drought here? All the lake levels are down. 

The bonfire was lively and one of the women’s program organizers came after about 30 min and asked for feedback & recommendations. Then one of the rally organizers came over and she started relaying them. Partners (escorted men as Jaron calls himself) and other supportive men were welcome at the bonfire, but at a certain point I leaned over to Jaron and observed that only men were talking now. 🙄 The women’s program organizer noticed that, too, and took care of it. We had s’mores and watermelon and a good time was had by all. I had the foresight to bring fiber & vitamins since we were going to be out late. Because at 40 you can still be cool and go to a bonfire. 🤷🏻♀️

I went to use the bathroom and met a woman who is 4’10”! She is getting in to offroad riding to join her husband (who she also married young) and is starting to learn the right skills with mountain biking. So we exchanged digits and maybe I will finally write up my lessons learned about finding & modifying bikes. 

Another early morning before out last day at the rally. Because this is fun.