Tour de Iron Butt: Java Jaunt

We had a great group show up to ride the 2nd Tour de Iron Butt ride this morning.  We even had some visitors join us.  John Formsman from Blue Mountain (who I met when I was out scouting roads last year) and Darlene Oliver, Judy Wyckoff and Laura Galloway from Tupelo made the trek to Oxford. 

 

The entire group made an "unofficial" store stop in Water Valley on the way out. After that, the start group began to split up as folks settled into what/how they planned to ride for the day.  We ladies stopped at Slyva Rena Bait and Tackle (the "official" store stop) where Leighton and I said goodbye to Darlene, Judy and Laura, but not before making plans to meet up for the Cheaha Challenge in April.

 

My gigantic bruises from the dog wreck last week kinda got to me after about 30 miles.  Leighton was good to hang back with me, since I planned to finish no matter what.  Like Rich said about the Century Lafayette, it wasn't pretty but I got it done.

 

Ryan McCready caught up with us just as we got back to Water Valley at mile 57..  He got a late start on the ride because he was helping to train some beginner triathletes this morning.  I was standing on the side of the road taking pictures of a field of daffodils when he found me.

 

It was a great day ... I even got a bit of a sunburn!

- Carol