Independence Day! Freedom! Liberty!
As the QIC put out the word on the Group Me chat on the evening of July 3rd that I was moving the Bucktown Coastie to Jefferson Playground, I heard nothing but crickets….Bueller?…Bueller? Given that many people travel on that holiday, I didn’t have high hopes that I would have company for my ride. Wait! Maybe I could visit the Troubled Waters Coffeeteria? That might work! As the wheels in my head were calculating the time and distance, I sent a message to the Troubled Waters gang to see if they would be doing Coffeeteria and I received a resounding YES!
I formulated my plan and made my mind up that I would travel from one parish to another to bring some goodwill out west. When I pulled up to the playground at 5:30 am, I unloaded my bike and saw only one person out there getting ready to ride as well. As I starting putting on my equipment, I was attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. Ouch! They were literally about to fly off with me and take me back to their lair. Swatting and swinging my arms like crazy to keep the mosquitoes at bay and putting on my helmet, gloves, and shoes had to be a sight.
What seemed like an eternity, I scrambled up the levee and took off as fast as I could to distance myself from West Nile, Equine Encephalitis, and Malaria laden pests. I traveled as fast as I could because now I was running late to make Coffeeteria in Destrehan. With no wind, I made great time and averaged 18.3 mph and pulled up at the Donut Shop around 6:45 to gather with Torque, Kim Chi, Mathlete, and Terabyte.
After hanging out with the TW leaders for about an hour and eating a huge cinnamon roll, I dreaded heading back with the Sun beating down, a headwind and no Pax to draft. 🙁
As I proceeded back to the AO, I jumped in a paceline and made record time back and averaged 21 mph. Whew…I’m beat, hot and drenched in sweat but completed 38.6 miles.
So thankful that I have the freedom to enjoy the life God has given me and that I can be part of the F3 Nation Brotherhood! See you in the gloom.
Thanks for riding over!