Saturday, April 28, 2012

No signs permitted on this property


Four randos (Dean, Jayjay, Phil, and Andy) rode the [RUSA Tar Heel 200K] in eastern North Carolina today.  The weather was grey and threatening all day, but I only felt about 10 raindrops right after the start.  The wind pushed us along on the outbound trip, but took revenge on the return trip.  I don't remember one dog chasing us out on the street; I can't imagine why.  Traffic was cordial, and I don't remember even one buzz.

Perhaps the highlight of the ride was meeting randos Mike O and Fearless Leader Alan at the afternoon checkpoint in Stedman.  They were riding a [different RUSA permanent] today, and timed their ride hoping to meet us.  How very nice.

North Carolina is having a primary election in early May.  Political signs were everywhere, advertising candidates for a wide variety of positions.  This 200K passes through many counties, and they all had their own set of candidates.  In Tar Heel, Phil noticed this one sign prohibiting other signs without permission (click to enlarge).  Ha.

Click [here] for a few more photos.

A great day on the bikes.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

R-12 vs Real Life


I have been lazily postponing the start of another R-12 this month.  Meanwhile...

* My father went in the hospital, so I was away one weekend.

* I got assigned to a new project at work, which demands lots more nights & weekends ramping up.

* A pickup truck smashed into my wife's Honda Fit.  [photos]

* And with only a few days left in the month, the weather is now 'suboptimal'.

Ugh.  Old lesson re-learned:  Ride early each month.