June 14, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 6:30 am and finished at 4:00 pm.

Covered 110 miles, ave speed of 15.0 mph. Max speed - 49.6 mph (SWEET!)

Riding time - 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Feet of elevation climbed - 4760'.

Wind - out of the SSE. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a +1.5.

I had really no wind for first 40 miles, then went into a 25mph wind for 20 miles (averaged 10 mph, ugh!), then my sag driver drove me to the end point so I could ride back with the wind for the final 50 miles.  That was SO much fun!!!

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

FROM YESTERDAY - Kirk and I went to eat at the Rustic Tavern after I posted last night.  While there we learned that the owners are Gary and Rhonda Reiser.  Gary is a cousin to our own Ron Reiser!  We had a nice time visiting with them, especially Rhonda.  She said that she hadn't seen "cousin Ronnie" for a long time.  (-:)  One of those cool small world kind of connections. 

ok, about today:

When you see a tower, you know there will be a hill there!

Today was another awesome day!  Mullen is in Mountain Time Zone, so the day brightened up much earlier.  I started the day riding south on Hwy 97.  Folks, you HAVE to drive this road sometime!  It is beautiful!  Lots of pictures to show you.

The excitement really started when Kirk noticed the road/sign to the VERY elite private golf course south of Mullen.  The entrance is about one mile north of the Dismal River.  He was VERY impressed by the course and the hospitality of the folks he visited with there.  They were very glad to let him poke around and take pictures.  So, I'll try to get captions correct if I add any. 

entrance to Sand Hills Golf Club

private cabins along the Dismal River

paved path out to the course

part of the course as seen from porch of club house

the porch of the clubhouse, overlooking the course about as far as he could see Kirk said.

There are no trees on this course, which makes it similar to the hallowed courses in Scotland.  Often professional players will come to the course to practice for playing in Scotland.

Donna, Mary Jane and Lauren

      These three ladies were very friendly and helpful to "the tourist" as they called Kirk.  Notice Kirk in the window of the door taking the picture.  (-:)


      While Kirk was checking out the golf course, I "discovered" the Dismal River valley.  Man was it beautiful!  Here are some pics.

looking across Dismal River valley from north

looking from the south

The river sounded like a stream out in Colorado.  Really neat!

Dismal River looking west

Dismal looking east

finally open!

     Well, once we headed west at Tryon, we had to cross a part of highway that had been closed for several days due to high ground water.  They were adding crushed rock onto the asphalt. While still officially closed, we were able to drive across it. 




In Arthur, we found the Pilgrim Holiness Church, also known as the Baled Hay Church.  It is the

      oldest known church made of straw bales in the U.S.   

The Pilgrim Holiness Church

hay bales covered with stucco

          
      It was built in 1928 and used for
      about 40 years.  It is listed in the
      National Register of Historic
      Places. 



About the last really cool thing of the ride was going down a HUGE hill about 18 miles north of Arthur!  It climbed up over a big ridge and heading down the south side I hit 49.6 mph (just coasting!).  It went around the bend so I couldn't see how big it was starting down.  If I had known, I would of popped into my big ring on the front, done some cranking and easily made it into the low 50's!!  We stopped at the top and yelled down to a guy from Utah who was climbing up the side of this hill.  You can clearly see that it's pretty steep on that side. 

Joe from Utah climbing the hill south of Hyannis

Thank-yous for today:

Thank you again to Kirk Shuck for sagging me the last two days!  You did a great job of helping and encouraging me.  Thank you my friend!  Another friend, Tim Wegenest, will be sagging me the next couple of days.  See you tomorrow!

Thanks also go to my host family, Andy and Johanna Safarik here in Hyannis.  Great supper tonight!!

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

     For relief from worry – Luke 12:22-34

Quote of the Day:
"Since the bicycle makes little demand on material or energy resources, contributes little to pollution, makes a positive contribution to health and causes little death or injury, it can be regarded as the most benevolent of machines." - Stuart S. Wilson (Oxford University)

New Spin Home Wisdom story: Part one of a two part story on dogs: "Caution - Cujo Wannabe Ahead!"

Closing thoughts for the day: 

Tomorrow is only about 60 miles.  I look at it as a "half rest day".  Should be there by noonish and have a relaxing, restful rest of the day.  Talk with you tomorrow!  Sorry for the lateness of this post.  I always try for before 10 pm.  It's only 9:41 pm here...

Forecast for the next day:

Relatively mild wind out of the SW.  I'm heading west, so into it from the angle, but still shouldn't be bad. 


Route/Towns for the next day:

      June 15 is very simple: Hyannis to Alliance!