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!

Gracie picked me up @ “my Place”: out in front of Jamie & Morgan’s house. She drove & I looked out windows ignoring any navigation. We ended up on campus of University of the South. All the buildings were made of local sandstone. Exquisite style.

Met her friend Doug from beyond up further N. Gracie & Doug both were riding single speeds hardtails. Doug’s was a 29er. Neat hiking trails wandering around the woods some on the edge of a bluff and other places on ridge that thru the leafless trees we could see down & out to farm land w/ bright green fields. Elevation was almost 2,000′ which meant spring was still to arrive as it had in Huntsville. Riding in the woods under leafless trees. Bit tired after ride.

Warm 70 deg in sun. Getting biker shirt tan line already.

Broke ratchet buckle strap on my shoe, there was enough meat to tighten down for tight fit. Called Trailhead in Huntsville & made arrangements to obtain a replacement. Cell phones are so cool. We were in the parking lot @ Sewannee and without finding a phone booth called out of state.

Gracie split for work and let me shower @ her house. Tsali was reclusive.

Back into 5 points for van dinner.

Garmin having fits after charging.

Tomorrow is Oak Mtn.

Monday morning and work week picks up. Ah, to sleep in.

Searched for foam to put under bed w/ no luck. Bought book, That Distant Land by Wendell Berry on a recommendation from I don’t remember her name from Snake Gap. Historical fiction of Kentucky.

Put effort into getting road bike back working. The chain was so rusted it would not roll over the jockey pulleys. W/ exceptional due diligence and penetrating oil the links freed up. I installed a new tube & tire on new wheel. All came from swapping: the tire from N Division in Spokane for a rockshox, the wheel from The Hub in Brevard for my rear wheel, and the tube from The Trailhead here in Huntsville for my front wheel. The air was free.

Did laundry @ 5 points. Talked w/ a guy who remembered Ritzville on his drive west. He grew up in NY and said not to believe the horror stories of high temps & humidity. He still does not have AC in his house. But then he was using a laundromat. I know I will not be here to experience first sweat drop.

Talked w/ Zysk for home cooking.

Gracie made the arrangements for our ride up @ Sewamee which per my dad, Jack Daniels is nearby. After ride libations?

Low effort day here in Alabama. You’d think it was hot & humid.