Sunday Training Ride - Find the excuses

Sunday morning training ride 35 miles.
Had a great time yesterday, "Carbo Loading" for today, a small pizza, 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes, figs, peaches, suzy q's, Milano cookies, chocolate milk, Coco pebbles,
ice cream and yogurt, I wanted to make sure I have enough calories for today's ride, I love this sport.
Started in the middle of the pack this time, saved 3 minutes not having to ride around
the butt sisters. I felt a little drained from yesterday. I looked over the crowd as we waited to start and the first thing to enter my mind was to call 911 for these poor folks, cause they gonna
need some help. I noted a head wind as I started the first leg. I passed a few slow pokes, and ripped it up to the grain elevators, my wrist was giving me trouble , but I still pushed on. It was very hot today, I hydrated as much as possible . The grass on the levee had just been cut and the smell filled my nostrils with enough pollen to choke 40 dollar mule, smelled good though. The river boats and barges worked like any other day, the giant ships struggled up river and the smells of sweat,Gatorade and inflated egos filled the bike path.
Lance Armstrong and I have something in common today, we're both on bicycles. That's it.
He won the Tour De France, I didn't . Crossed Frank , he was cruising about 110 miles an hour.
Reached the half way point 17.5 miles, stopped for water, streched out, started back and wouldn't you know it, the wind turned around and was in my face again. The heat escalated to about 115 and my tires were melting and sticking to the path, I had to pedal extra hard to make headway. I kept hydrating , it was hot. I didn't do much passing on the way back but I had already passed those I would , a lot of riders were camped at the rest stops.
Fast Frank rode with me a few miles, we stopped at a water stop and if they'd had a grill I think he'd have put on a steak and potatoes. He was hungry.
It was so hot the air in my tires was sweating. It was so hot the water in my water bottle was boiling. It was so hot my sweat would sizzle when it hit the ground.
It was so hot the grain elevator rats were wearing sunglasses and lounging in little plastic pools and lawn chairs, I saw one drinking a mint julep.
Needless to say I wasn't making my best time, but no matter, I got in 65 miles this weekend in the blazing heat. I'm almost half way where I need to be. Feel good, gaining strength, getting ready. Burned a lot of calories today, now I get to eat all I can to replace those calories.
I love this sport.
later
gary