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Journal Entry Aug 4, 2002 We pushed the envelope yesterday. We pushed the envelope yesterday. The heat index in the afternoon was 110ºF and the natural wind was calm. Press (Stratus), Steve (Strada Demo) and myself (HepCat) got a real scare when Rita (Rocket) got dizzy, had a splitting headache, and began having cramps. That morning, we had ridden 11 miles south from Sumrall to Jackson Road Station, with Don (Stratus), Ramon (Rocket) and David (upright). There were lots of bikers and families on the trail and we had a good time being the catalyst for friends getting together, both the Silver and the Gold variety! Ramon, son David and Don went to the south end of the trail and back to Sumrall, conversing, I'm sure, in at least two languages for 15 miles! Steve, Rita, Press and I headed north for Jeff Davis Lake, 38 miles away, to have lunch. Rita led the way for much of the ride till Steve found his confidence on the Strada and blasted off with the rest of us trying to catch up. We all made it to the lake exit, after a stop for water and fuel bars, and decided to make the 2.8 mile climb to the lake. The gravel/asphalt road was mushy and sticky from the intense heat and made the massive climb on the last hill even worse. We then discovered we had missed the turn to the lake (oasis, at this point) by a hundred yards! At that point the heat and the climb, combined with the 50 miles we had just ridden (to a lake we couldn't find!) got to Rita. After a dousing with water and some roadside rest, Rita's cramps lessened up enough to coast down the hill to the lake and we found a picnic bench to have lunch and rest on. The lake was beautiful and generated a cool, welcome wind. There were drink machines (that take bills), restrooms, shade and water. There's even a huge swing overlooking the large lake. Rita regenerated enough (she thought) to try the ride back, but reason (and cramps) set in and Doc Steve stayed with her till Press and I could make the 25 miler back and return to the lake with the vehicle. After a couple of Nestles ice cream sandwiches each, we concluded it's no fun to run out of gas on a bike! In fact, it can be downright scary when you can't breathe! View All Journal Entries |
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