Bob’s Trip summary
I had a great time. It was a new, exciting, challenging and fun trip spent with three great friends. I would do again. As John said at the end, sometimes you have to test yourself in doing things like this. And, I rapidly found out how out-of-shape I was at the start of my training. My fitness level is a lot better, and I hope to maintain it better in the years to come.
Next time, I would train a lot more in preparation. For the next trip, it would be nice to have a really short day in the middle, so that we can actually spend some more time drinking a few beers the night before.
We have no time! – what Leo said at the start when I wanted a picture of the four of us, and what he said when I wanted to slow down a bit after we complete the ride and Leo wanted us in the van NOW.
No – Bob’s usual answer to Leo.
You can’t do that! – Leo’s usual answer to Bob’s suggestions.
Where are you? – the first thing that John says when he rings up.
Random garbled sounds – Leo on his i-phone.
Peanuts! – Mike realizing that I had bought a bag of peanuts in the shell with me and then single-mindedly proceeded to ravenously eat them in one sitting. I managed to snatch a few of them for myself.
The Best Western – Leo’s only answer to “Where are we staying tonight?”
This bike isn’t built for this! (or something to that effect) – John’s words as he climbs Carson Pass.
Any obscure Simpsons quote by any of the Simpsons characters – Mike
You don’t need vegetables! – Kim the waitress at the BBQ restaurant saying this to us after we order the platter for 4 which only contains an extraordinary amount meat.
Leo asked me to bring it.. – Mike’s explanation when I find a rice cooker and a bag of rice in the van on the first morning and thinking who had brought their wife along or whose wife has stowed away on the trip.
I had to use first gear. – Mike’s a-matter-of-fact description of how he climbed Carson Pass (he was the only one who didn’t walk some portion of the climb).
I can’t hold this pace. – what Leo, John and I thought every time we were drafting Mike and he started to crank up the pace due to boredom.
---------- silence --------------- - John, the man of few words.
There’s no traffic on that road – Leo’s prediction of the traffic on every road that we take.
Mike: “whoa!”; Leo: “whoa!”; Bob: “whoa!” - What the mini-peloton said in succession as they avoid a rattler snake on the shoulder of the road.
Of course, special thanks goes to my very understanding wife, Janet, for putting up with my training rides, ignoring the yard work, and leaving her for a week with the kids. And also to my daughters, Samantha whose birthday I missed and Jessica who both saw a bit less of me during this time.
Leo was the gang leader who was able to round us up and turn an idea into fruitition. Mike, John and Leo who literally dragged me along by allowing me to draft them during the trip. I wished I could have somehow gotten a tow from these guys on some of the steep climbs.