Sunday morning up with the lark. I packed all my belongings into the car and set out my wash things and a change of clothes ready in order to make a quick exit when I got back. I downloaded another Archers and settled into the car with my Brazilian Roast. Went back for a refill and by this time the jug contained Peruvian coffee. Tasted the same to me. Waited until the clock hit 7.30am and I hit the chill morning air on the trail. Susan was already up and wished me a good ride. My hosts from the night before were packing up and just waiting until the morning sun burned the dew off the tent.
I set off at rogue’s pace enjoying the chilly morning.
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I tracked a couple going fast on really fancy bikes. I stopped occasionally to take a picture and then carried on catching up with them.
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| From BRAG Bikefest 2011 Columbus |
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| From BRAG Bikefest 2011 Columbus |
I got to the first rest stop in no time. Not having had breakfast I devoured a PB&J and a banana and carried on this time following the fast couple. They both had Corima four spoke rear wheels and a fancy bike to match. Even one Corima wheel would cost more than five times that of my Walmart road bike. We picked our way through the massive military base, Fort Benning and stopped often to check the route. No pictures on base. I didn't want to get arrested as a spy! Soon we got onto the airfield and picked up lots of speed on the level perimeter road, keeping a steady 22 MPH for a few miles. I was quite enjoying this burst of speed but when we slowed down it was apparent that the woman wasn’t so happy and wobbled quite a bit until she got her composure back. I think I may have been pushing them a bit too hard on my bike-shaped-object.
We went through the checkpoint and gingerly picked our way across the bridge expansion joints, which could easily swallow my 32 mm tyres let alone their 22mm. The next rest stop was at a recreation park connected to the military base. We were the first riders that day to reach it. I had some more breakfast and then visited the loo. When I got out, the couple had already departed. I raced out and saw them in the distance. I almost caught up with them when we crossed the bridge again.
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| From BRAG Bikefest 2011 Columbus |
I realised that the mats there had been placed by the organisers to cover the expansion joint but that these had been displaced by cars. I pulled them back into place. The other couple were far in the distance but after a mile I was back up with them. We worked our way up around the far side of the airfield and along the scenic Dixie Road. Then we got to a junction where the route warned of construction. It turned out that this construction was road resurfacing and the construction gang had obliterated all of the route markings. Needless to say, people got lost. I saw a family sailing on towards Highway 182. I passed the couple who were pondering which way to go. It was obviously the wrong way but soon I found Edwards St and I was at the end of it instead of half way along so I could pick up the correct trail. Getting back to the riverwalk I found outbound people getting lost and to make it worse I think I sent them the wrong way as the Lumpkin Rd crossing looks very much like 10th Division Rd. At least I wasn’t lost any more and I motored the last eight miles back to HQ, the first bike back. I never saw the couple again and they may still be circling Fort Benning looking for the route mark. So I told the organisers about the pitfalls I found on the way and saw the BRAG hats. I reckoned that there was enough money to buy fuel for the return drive so I got a $10 hat.
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| From BRAG Bikefest 2011 Columbus |
I rushed into the shower, jumped in the car and once I hit the highway it was non stop 55mph cruise control for the next 100 miles to catch to the tail end of the Sunday family gathering that Tammy had organised.
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