Dateline: Birmingham, AL
Woke up in Huntsville, weather getting better.
Drove to Gracie’s house for departure, Tsali still standoffish in spite of previous visit.
Drove interstates down to Birmingham and Oak Mtn. Big state park.
Great ride, great trail system: hand built, goodies on the tread, nice play on elevations. Gracie said she was sore from yesterday and was thinking an easy ride. 4 riders caught us lead by a woman. Gracie jumped on last rider’s wheel and we were off. This hard push lasted until the leader asked if anyone wanted by, meaning us. Gracie said yes and dropped the hammer. I tried, I really pedaled to stay with her but finally dropped and allowed the 4 riders to pass. Gracie kept it up for awhile longer and at a road xing she leat go. She had fire in her eyes: her first “race”. We later learned from the last woman who couldn’t keep up that the leader is the weather woman on local TV and is an ultra endurance racer.
15.82 miles & 1707’vert.
Drove further into park for XG shower, cost $3.00 way nice than free beach shower.
Spring break. Families etc @ beach w/ young kids splashing in h2o.
Thinking about riding lake Lurleen and then driving into MS.
Zags play tomorrow @ 2:30 central.
Getting creak in bike, thinking it is drive train related. I grease the bushings & hardly any if any grease goes in. Now have all parts for complete drive train replacement. Was going to do it in Cahaba bike shop parking lot but found out a beer & Bball spot but passed Publix chain grocery so i stopped for food & hung in parking lot doing this.
Picasa is not working for me to edit my pictures.
70 degrees & sunny today. Bid goodbye to wonderful southern host Gracie. Word is everybody knows Gracie and it is mostly true. I enjoyed her friendship and she waited for me to catch up. May she live long & strong. Leadville 100. Go Girl!