Two County -- (By Dwaine)

The timing, terrain, and proximity of the Two County Double Metric Century organized ride fell perfectly into our STP training schedule. Organized as a fund raiser for and by the Capitol Bicycling Club, it promised lots of scenic roadways with little vehicular traffic. Les floated the idea that we complete the 127 mile loop as our final big training ride. Scott and I both bit.

Les and I were a bit surprised to see riders already on the course before the scheduled 7 a.m. start. Scott, having arrived early, helped us assemble the bikes quikly and kept us on task. We hit the road just a few minutes after seven. Three Puyallup Cyclopaths proudly flying our colors.

The weather on previous days had been record setting hot. The day of the ride was originally forecast to be a bit cooler with some high clouds. As the day grew close NOAA updated that forecast to include the possibility of dry lightning and/or a thunderstorm with 'non wetting rain'.

The early part of the ride was flat and shared by all six routes. Within about five miles we were passing Millersvania State Park and already commenting on how quickly we were out of town and into some beautiful country. We kept the speeds reasonable and chatted for that first hour or so.

When the route turned West at about 15 miles we picked up a local Olympia rider. The pace picked up and we formed our first paceline into the light Westerly wind. The local rider, I didn't get his name, helped with some navigation and took a pretty hard pull when his number came up. Not long after picking up our fourth rider we started to see some lighting! We witnessed multiple lightning bolts. Most of the roads seemed safe in that there were tall trees on both sides of the road. But we still discussed the electrical conductivity of carbon and aluminum bicycles as we observed the light show.

Not long after the light show came the 'non wetting rain'. And it seemed pretty wetting when it soaked through my jersey. It was also about this time we turned onto Michigan Hill road. When the climbing started the local rider said 'This is where you drop me!'. I thought he was kidding, but he fell back pretty quickly. Did he read all the rides listed on our Cyclopath Jerseys and psyche himself out? Either way our group was back down to three.

We kept the pace up until we reached the rest stop placed at mile 62. Almost. I had a flat at 61.5 miles. We quickly swapped in a new used tube with all three riders helping. Then a chatty local sauntered up and started asking us this and that. We excused ourselves as politely as possible as we were afraid he was about to invite us in for a cup of coffee and maybe breakfast.

Getting to the halfway point Scott did the Lion's share of the work at the front keeping us moving nicely. During one of these pulls he even snapped a 'selfie'. He was pulling the three rider train, holding his phone out front, and directing Les and I into the frame for the best photographic composure. Les even had the forethought to smile!

Scott says: 'Just a bit to your left Les. Ok, Dwaine, close
the gap. Got the shot!'

After the rest stop at mile 62 our pace slackened. We had bellies full of food and took some time to let it digest. Then we encountered a few climbs. None were Cyclopath quality. What they lacked in length they made up for in steep. We were all quietly hurting. Until Scott said 'My legs are burning'. And we all admitted to feeling the same. So, actually, we weren't hurting all that quietly.

The last climb ended at about 102 miles into the ride. We had dropped the pace a bit to let our legs recover and were moving well enough. Scott's dad called and Scott announced he would be meeting us at the finish area. This helped us stay motivated to keep moving forward. As we approached the final rest stop our eyes had lost their hang-dog look. A quick group inventory showed we had adequate food and hydration to get us to the finish. Les said 'But those orange slices are so good!'. We all agreed that we would stop for orange slices only and then get right back on the road.

I led into the stop, unclipped one foot, located the last five orange slices, stuffed one in my mouth, remounted, and started soft pedalling up the road. After a few hundred feet I did not see any Cyclopath jerseys following me. I circled back to find both Les and Scott feasting. I asked 'What about the orange slice only stop?' They responded between bites about how good the cookies were, and then about the bananas. And then this. And that. So much for 'orange slices only'. And since I did come all the way back I figured 'When in Rome...' and had a few cookies too.

These guys are happy (to be done!)

With just a few miles to go we could already smell the barn. I had been watching our average speed all day. It was above my goal most of the day but had fallen to exactly my goal after those last hills. When we were eight miles out we made a left onto a seven mile stretch of Littlerock Road. With a slight headwind. I really wanted to make sure our average didn't fall. Not even a tenth. So after about a mile of Littlerock Road I went to the front and set a pace just a skosh above my goal speed. This pull took a lot out of me. I think I'm pretty good at emptying the tank near the end of a long ride and I was definitely burning matches over those six miles.

At the finish line we realized that we missed the 'Finish Line Celebration'. By hours. Instead, Scott's family warmly greeted us. The cameras were not unholstered until we recovered enough to smile. Which, after completing 127.3 miles in 7.7 hours, we felt obliged to do.