This Was Such a Fun Event That I Just Have to Get Into Detail About It. So I Apologize

This was such a fun event that I just have to get into detail about it. So I apologize now if this note is long.

Scott and I drove up Saturday morning. We left town at 4am and drove through the fog, arriving to Scott College at 5:55am. During our arrival, registration, and getting ready, we ran into a few of our Tri-Peoria Club members and friends. So good to see familiar faces!

During the early morning part of the ride, we passed a lot of beautiful houses getting to and along the Mississippi river. At Mile 7, Scott got a flat tire (pinched by the rim). Once we got past that flat tire we didn't have any tire trouble the rest of the way (which was really lucky and nice).

We decided to pass on the pancake breakfast and go straight to the first rest stop. Before we arrivedat the first rest stop, our Tri-Peoria friends caught back up to us (they stopped for pancakes). :-) We rode with them to the first rest stop and during this time I was taught how to draft.I was also taught to keep my cadence at 90. So glad I bought the cycling computer from Bushwacker on Friday and Thank you to the guys who installed it on the spot!!!

After the first rest stop, Scott and I rode by ourselves again.Every now and thenScott would ride ahead of me... and during that time, a car slowed down to ask me "Are you doing a Century Ride?" I was SO happy and proud that I shouted "YES!!" :-)

Shortly after that, I met Randy. Randy was wearing a Caterpillar Bicycle jersey, older man, and looked/spoke identical to Zach Galifianakisfrom The Hangover movies. Randy asked me if I had ever done TOMRV before and when I said "No", he let me know that I was in for a real TREAT for the upcoming bridge. So when I reached the bridge, I found that it was grated and you could see the water below. Not a fun thing for a person afraid of heights!

As we approached miles 60, 70, 80...people started talking about "The Wall" at rest stops and along the ride. It was around mile 85 that we stopped at a coffee shop and the questions at this point were "Are you doing 'The Wall'? Or are you going around the country route?"

In my mind, I had this image of me going upThe Wall halfway and just rolling back down backwards.

Well, we are almost there... couldn't be too much further when we were ALL stopped by a Fire Truck. There was a motorcycle accident ahead. (You all know this hits home for me.) An ambulance took some people away and as we were released to pass through, I noticed empty motorcycles. I hope they are all OK.

We get to MILE 92 and there's the fork in the road. Country route or The Wall. I asked/told Scott "We're doing The Wall, right?" As soon as he said "yes" I was already starting to climb. Straight up and then a curve to the left. Oh... and then UP some more... AND THEN up some more!!! Straight up. As soon as we got to the top, there was the most beautiful view... I had to get our picture taken.

After the 17% incline climb known as "The Wall"

The rest of the ride, even though it was hilly... I had a smile on my face. As if 107 miles in one day wasn't something to brag about... there's The Wall to tell about as well.

We got to the campus, found Scott's sister, Yvette, and our friend John and had a huge dinner...

We stayed the night in Loras College dorm rooms. I think I passed out around 8 or 8:30pm. :-)Woke up for Sunday at 4:30am.

We packed our stuff, went to breakfast, saw more Tri-Peoria friends, and got our bikes. I really have to thank John for lending me a long sleeve shirt because it was a cold start!! And not really thinking about much, I got on my bicycle yelling something along the lines of "Holy crap! That HURTS!!" ... while everybody laughed at meknowing the pain I felt as my butt hit my seat.

Within 13 miles, we already had a hilly route and a 3 mile hill. Yep... Started at Mile 8 and climbed to Mile 11.

The rest of the ride was about the same... hills, hills, and more hills. We found Sheila and Reid from our Tri Club and stopped for Coffee in Bellevue. Very nice break!

Then we proceeded to Preston... Hills, hills, more hills... I have to say, our break at Preston was a little longer than all previous breaks. They had grilled food, we saw a lot of our Tri Peoria group there, and really got a good break before hammering out the rest of the way back to Scott College.

At the Preston rest stop.

On our last rest stop, I noticed my left foot hurting and it was after that rest stop that I figured out why. When I cycle, I have a habit of leaning for rest on my left leg. I realized after 180 miles for the weekend, that I need to alternate my resting leg to reduce any future pain. And I will do that for future cycling as well. Rest on left leg, rest on right leg, etc etc...

At the end of the tour, there was one last major climb. I felt the heat of the day, 195 miles on my legs, and there were times I wanted to get off the bike and walk... but I didn't. I was so happy when we rode back into Scott College, it was definitely a feeling of achievement and success. It was a great weekend, beautiful weather, very good friends, and just an overall great experience.

Will do it again and I would tell any and all of my friends to do it as well.

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