3 1/2 in 2?

What have I done the last two months (well technically 7 weeks)? Besides working and building some teeter totters for family and friends, I have completed three full centery (100 mile) bike rides and a half-century ride. Here is a quick rundown of the rides.

TOUR DE ST. GEORGE - April 14 2012
The group of riders at the start line.


Beautiful scenery (and a good look at the clouds that dumped quite a bit of rain on us).


Crossing the finish line


The group of riders after we all finished.



RIDE FRIEDREICH'S ATAXIA - May 5, 2012. This was a 1/2 Century was a fundraising ride. It began and ended in Davis. It was so extremely windy that day, that I could barely keep my bike on the road, let alone try to take pictures!

EYE-Q CLASSIC - May 19, 2012
Our escort through town and down the freeway!


Riding down the freeway.


Scenery


Lunch stop (yes at the entrance of a cemetery!)


Google Earth image of the route.



LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD - July 2, 2012
At the start line and excited to get started!


We had beautiful scenery all day long!


Crossing into Idaho.


Back into Utah.


Google Earth Image of the route.


Just after we crossed the finish line and with our cheering squad!

Indoor "Skydiving"!

Last week while Neal was here visiting, I found out about this in-door skydiving place called iFLY. It is only about a one-and-a-half hour drive from Davis and it was something both of us were REALLY interested in doing. I took Friday off from work and we had an AWESOME time!
Here are some the pictures flights.

All suited up and ready to go!


There was a lady there whose husband and two young daughters were going to fly, but she was not. We asked her if she would take some pictures of us during our flights. She was kind enough to do so!
Me - Taken from outside the chamber.


Taken from inside the chamber.


Neal - Taken from outside the chamber:




Taken from inside the chamber.

Petaluma/Point Reyes Bike Ride

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to get out of town for the day. Last year, Sue gave me a book called Road Biking, Northern California. I looked through the book and found a ride near Petaluma and Fort Reyes. I decided that is where I wanted to go for the day. I could not have asked for better weather. It was bright, sunny and about 65 degrees. PERFECT for a ride. The loop was 33 miles. Due to a couple steep climbs (see description below), I had and embarrassingly slow ride (about 3 1/2 hours). I still am trying to build my hill climbing strength since I will be riding several hills in the St. George Century Ride in April(which is part of the reason I choose to go there yesterday).

The start & finish of the ride.


Some scenery of the first part of the ride:




This picture does not even begin to show how steep the hill is. I had already climbed about half of it and this was part of the second half. The name of the climb is appropriator named "The Wall". It was a 2 mile climb ranging between and 8% to 18% grade!


The payoff after such a brutal climb was this amazing view (and the 25-35 mile per hour downhill ride!!!


Just some nice scenery towards the end of the ride:

Foxy's Fall Century

Yesterday, was the "Foxy's Fall Century". It is a bike ride and participants have the choice to ride either 30, 62, or 100 miles. My dad and each rode the full 100 miles! My friend, Jill, offered to drive my mom around the course to take pictures and cheer us on. We finished in a total time of 8 hours, 28 minutes and a ride time of 7 hours, 7 minutes! It was a beautiful day for a bike ride and we all had a great time!
Here are some of the pictures taken throughout the ride.






25 miles in - pulling into the first rest stop!







Pulling into the water stop.







Finally - after 50 miles of riding, it is lunch time!



Getting ready to climb back on the bikes after lunch.


Climbing "Cardiac Hill". Yes, that really is the name of it - AND it is aptly named!!!





Oh, the blessed descent!!!


Lake Berryessa.




Pulling into the final rest stop.


A professional photographer set up his equipment along the course. These are the two I ordered.



Lake Solano.


The bike statue (between Winters and Davis).


Pulling into the finish line!