Spokefest 2010

So here we are a year has passed and it is Spokefest time. Last year I set a goal to complete all 21 miles of Spokefest because I did not do all 21 miles last year. Some of my friends mention the word cheater when referring to last year. What! I say it wasn't cheating. Family friendly ride with no timing or anything and I took a short cut. I knew the hills were going to get me so I turned right when I was supposed to go straight and cut off a few miles. So here we are! Doing Spokefest again. Will I accomplish the goal I set? I was apprehensive about the hills but not the distance. I have been biking a lot but not doing a lot of hills. I happened to see Cindy, eating her breakfast in the car, on the way to the ride. I followed her to a close parking place!
We met in front of Red Robin again this year. There were some new faces with us! Fun to meet everyone!
I think my friends are used to this picture taking thing and then sometimes I look at their faces and wonder if they are thinking...I wish she would get this over with! :-)
What a beautiful fall day for a ride. Blue skies, cool temperatures, and lots of cyclists!
Hi Deanna...the camera is out again!

Deanna had the good idea of stopping at every water stop to re-group. No way we could stay together in the crowd. Our first stop!

Most of ride went along the Spokane River. What a great place to live and play!
Lots of cyclists for sure. I think Spokefest is getting bigger each year. This is year #3! Year number 2 for me!
The group! We can always count on Cindy to bring food and she is sharing here! Thanks Cindy!
Stop number two had lots of cookies, energy bars, fruit, water and even a band! So fun!
Here we go taking off from the food stop! Re-grouped and ready to ride!
Hills! I was very happy with how I handled the hills. I was able to ride up all but one hill even with the crowd. There were some pretty good hills for sure. Lots of them too! This one is the only one that got me. I had to walk it. It was about 18 miles into the ride and about a mile long. In Spokane we call it Doomsday Hill. It is the big hill in the Bloomsday running race! At Bloomsday a vulture waits for you at the top!
We had gorillas waiting for us as we crested the hill.
This is our last stop. Deanna and her friends all were able to pedal up Doomsday hill. Great job ladies!

Ride complete and of course we have to make a coffee run! We added food too! We all went to Deanna's sister restaurant downtown. Madelines. Hope I got the right Deanna! We laughed and talked like girls do! Always fun to hang out with the girls.

So what is the goal for next year??? I accomplished the goal I made last year after Spokefest. This is it! Doomsday Hill! No walking only pedaling! I better get practicing on hills!!!! Praise God for a wonderful Sunday morning.