It seemed a good idea at the time...

When the opportunity to join the FCBA 2014 was announced last year incentives were offered for signing up before October 1st. The warm afterglow of that summer's ride was still with me, so I jumped at the offer, for the premium of another cycling jersey was just too tempting to pass up. That's the best I can figure, anyway.

I wasn't thinking about the cold showers, just like I took last Friday evening after arriving. I had forgotten about these rambunctious "kids" with boundless energy, given a basketball will think nothing of dribbling it all around you while you're in bed, for we sleep on gym floors. There is the construction work with too many people with far more enthusiasm than skill. Though I'm not often at a loss for words, I write better than I speak (self-editing all the time), so am not eager to speak before a congregation, which I was asked to do Sunday...

Actually, all of that is a lot of fun, and I love it. Okay, maybe not a cold shower, but showers, whatever temperature, never are so refreshing as they are here. We are hosted quite well, too- treated like rock-stars most everywhere we go. It's just that I didn't prepare very well at all, and around 70 miles into today's 92 mile ride, I was really starting to doubt I can do this.

It wasn't very hilly leaving Lake Michigan and heading west. We went for miles along the state line border between Illinois and Wisconsin, eventually turning north into the dairy land. The wind was pretty strong out of the SW, so made work for the majority of our miles. It wasn't long before the pounding road started bruising me, and I really was looking forward to the 20 mile break. The second break I was getting pretty tired, and by the third I was starting to feel the tell-tale symptoms of cramping in my legs. Though I was conscientiously hydrating I started loading up on the electrolyte drink, and as I did was able to keep my legs from locking up.

Riding with others helps ease the work, too. I rode with a variety of people, sometimes pulling ahead, or falling behind; sometimes "pulling" (first rider into the wind), other times "grabbing a wheel" (drafting). This worked, for by 2pm we had arrived at our church hosts.

I keep pretty busy from then to now; bedtime. I wish I had more time to write. Going for showers can be time consuming, and then I've made a habit of video editing (uploading as I write but not available to publish tonight), sharing ride experiences with other riders, dining, tending to gear...we keep busy. Now I must sleep, for I am on breakfast crew, and that starts too soon. There's no telling what tomorrow will bring in the 80 miles we ride. I hope I can do this.