LAST August 2016

So how was the HH100 ? Inquiring minds rest easy & assured for more details are about to be leaked. It was fun, long at times and fast at times. Make sense ?

First. It was much fun. We all talked about it and when it ceases to be that way, that is fun, we stop doing it. No one was injured, every one finished and we enjoyed the accommodations, the ride and transiting to & from.

The people of WF were great. They lined the route and some had cow bells ringing, cheering and encouragement meant much early and frankly later in the ride as well.

The course passed thru Sheppard Air Force Base & the reception and cheers from the airmen were just incredible. Wildly cheering, hands out for high fives it was very, very cool.

This year the team had five (5) riders. S2 & his Pop Mikey rode together in the 25 M. Mikey has cardio issues and trains but going further would, COULD be dangerous for him. S2 rides shotgun with his Dad. Last year FB rode with them as Medical Emergency back-up.

Speaking of, FB was texting in from vacation on the East coast early and warned next year ‘estrogen’ will rejoin the team.

Patty rode 50 M and turned in a stellar time. She trained religiously and reaped the rewards finishing high in her bracket.

S1 & I each did 100 K. We started together but got separated between Rest Station 1 & 2 and I didn’t see him again. I told him I expected to have him ride past at any minute later during the ride but nada.

In his defense, he borrowed my hybrid bike and I am not surprised he struggled. He brought his own seat but it was still a strange bike and both FB & S2 refer to it as POS.

This being my third time to ride in the event, it was the worst year for wind. It was brutal and with the unrelenting sun made for a grueling ride. There was a fleeting moment between 70 – 80 km where quitting did pass thru my mind as I asked myself that favorite question of therapists everywhere … why ?

But I pressed on valiantly and finished a shade under five (5) hours which I was happy with. The first hour my pace was less than four (4) hours to complete. Metric is so easy. OK class pay attention for an application math example.

Bill averages 26 km/hr. If he rides four (4) hours, he would finish the 100 km course. IF that pace could be maintained. Which of course it could not. The first hour was fresh, aka no fatigue and the road surface was fast pavement (smooth) which was a large factor.

There were times when 18 kph felt like ‘hauling butt’ into the strong wind.

OK. Enough of that.

I need to get back to work.

I will finish four (4) duck heads this morning PLUS work on a number of other projects. I’ll back fill the image with the finished heads later today at a break.

PS: THIS IS HUGE !!

Rather than emailing the image as an attachment, I hooked up the phone to this machine & simply 'moved' the image file. Much much faster & further evidence technology CAN BE mastered.

I am awestruck with myself.

One, two & three head coat racks. Mallards & canvasbacks. Filling up 'real estate' on the six (6) foot table set-up for Cabela's.

It's going to be a great day in Paradise !!