Weekend In The Gorge

...so...yesterday I left off at the conclusion of Saturday's most awesome brick. Upon arriving home, I fell face first into a bag of Doritos as well as a bag of Cheddar Sourcream Chips. Thank you husband and children for knowing just what Mama needs! While I cleaned myself up, I had the bike clothes tumbling around the washing machine and we were both ready at the same time to head on out to the gorge. Michele and her gang have a great place in White Salmon with a fantastic view of Hood...

Source

On arriving, Johan handed out booze, the tri talk started and we pretty much drank...

hot tubbed...

hung out on the deck...

and ate A. Lot. Of. Food.

And talked and laughed a lot while our photographer took every opportunity to snap a picture with my mouth hanging open or one eye closed...

...before heading to bed.  I slept like crap. Probably because of the wine... and sleeping on a leather couch in my slippery sleeping bag...and trying not to snore...while listening to David snore.

Regardless, we woke early (see morning eye bags for proof of this)...

 managed to get ALL of us out of the door and to the event and we were off.

I have to address the 48 vs 60 mile decision. There was a TON of peer pressure over all that food and drink Saturday night. Even the people who had originally said they were going to do the 48 had flipped to the 60 miler. This would have made my decision, but just in the nick of time, our last girl arrives and there is no way she is doing the 60, so my choice is made for me...no one left behind! We'll be a group of two if that's the way it plays out, but I'm with her! The 48 would be the longest ride she had ever done.


One more pic capturing most of us...

...and away we go. The first 20 miles were the same for both routes, so it was a nice big group, but eventually 4 of us pulled behind to take pictures of cows and horses and fields and hills and old abandoned farm houses. Unfortunately, my camera was dead, so I have NO pictures of the ride. And boy! was it beautiful. The most beautiful ride I've ever done. All in all, I had a good time with the 5 other girls that eventually joined me in the 48 and my butt was glad I chose the 48, but I really wish I had done the 60 miler. We rode slower than I would have liked and I felt pretty fresh at the end of it all, which I guess is a good thing - what I was "supposed" to do, right? Next year, the 60 is mine!

When we arrived back to the school, the volunteers had HOT FRESH HOMEMADE Cherry Cobbler for us. Topped with vanilla icecream! YUM.

When I got home I realized that 90 miles in the saddle this weekend without bike shorts made for some nice bruising, but other than that I was no worse for wear.