20 June and looking toward September

Another scorcher and a ride into the foothills, with the Amigos, or at least a number of them.  The large group split up right at the starting point, Studz Bar in Benijofar.  About fourteen of us headed out in a faster group, heading for Abanilla.  A similar number headed of for parts unknown to me.  The hills separated our group with the Danish/Norwegian/German contingent charging ahead; the lone American holding up the middle and some Brits guarding the rear with one each from Jordan and Spain.  Not that they couldn't go faster, but they decided to stay with a slower member, while I got dropped by the faster lads.  After the coffee break, we split again, with the faster group (including me) heading off for a longer ride home through Santomera and the dreaded tunnel-climb in Oriuela.  As I anticipated, after we did the fast descent, we started climbing and flying on the flat.  I couldn't keep up with the 36-38 KPH speed, so I told them that I knew the way home and they should speed on withouot me.  Method to my madness-I avoided the climb to the tunnel and had a leisurely ride home, finishing with 95 kliks done.

  As you can see, I've been thinking of the September trip into Flagstaff Lake.  I'm looking forward to sitting on the rock, casting to pickerel and perch and sipping on a beer.  If you're interested, we can probably find another kayak or canoe.

No, it's not snowing here in Spain, but at times today I kind of longed for the cool.  The Amigos did the airport run and then toured the coast through Santa Pola, the salt flats and then through La Marina.  It was rather warm.  So why am I posting a photo of me in a snowy environment?  It's to remind you all that the MS ride is coming up, and that I'm soliciting funds again.  Please visit my page and open your wallet:
 http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/MAMBikeEvents?px=3818121&pg=personal&fr_id=17754 
Is and I are heading back to the States mid-July to whip the team, or what's left of it into a cohesive, tire-burning force-to-be-reckoned-with (if you'll pardon the dangling participle).  

Lately, I've been punishing myself on La Finca Hill, right near home.  It's three km up from one side and four up on the other side.  Reason for the penance is my poor performance on the Amigos' last foray into the Hondon Valley.  We went to Novelda last week and I wound up flaming out and walking about a km till I found my legs again.  Needless to say, the group got a nice long rest while they waited for me.  I figure that if I do La Finca at least twice a day when I'm not on a group ride, I'll not give the guys another lengthy rest period.  Maybe dropping my weight to 175 will help, but I'd rather not give up beer and bread, rice and wine...and all that.  But then, I'm not in Spain to eat twigs and grass.  C'est la vie.