The Solvang Century

And so it ends. The vacation.

I came to Solvang to ride and I did. By my estimate this past week I did about 230 miles – maybe a bit more.
The first 130 miles was to get ready for the last 104. I probably did better on the first 130 than I did on the final 104. Probably because they were spread out over six days. The final 104 was done in one day. Makes a big difference.
What I really came to Solvang for was the final 104 - The Solvang Century.

I could give you a mile by mile report but that would probably be insufferably boring even to someone who’s ridden the event – perhaps especially to someone who’s ridden the event. So just the highlights.
Bike time: Seven hours and eleven minutes – I’m looking for a 7-11 jersey. The time is not my best but considering the time of year (translation: not much training) and the difficulty, this isn’t a time I need to be ashamed of.
Best part: Mile 33. That’s where Chris rode up beside me to ask if I was feeling okay The last time I had seen him was at the Lompoc SAG stop - mile 23. I had stopped to eat and to look for him and Jens. They had pulled away at the descent off the hill at mile 13. As I was threading my way through the crowd I saw them in line for food. Since I had my own food and had eaten, I told them that I was going on. They would catch me up soon enough anyway.
So when Chris appeared beside me, I had been leading for about 10 miles. That doesn’t happen very often nor does it last very long. I kept waiting for them to catch up and was amazed how far I had gotten before they found me. Suddenly a line came by with Jens about midway back. He tapped Chris on the arm and off they went. And I continued loafing up the hill. It was good while it lasted.

The very best part: I rode the 104 miles. It wasn’t pretty but it got done.And there was so much more. The people I met – almost without exception everyone was to willing to engage in conversation. The scenery – amazingly the farm roads are almost as clean as those in Switzerland. (The roadway itself – another story.) The challenge – made it worth doing.