BBQ Steak with Good Friends - April 21

Decided I was going to ride with the racers this morning. Yesterday and the day before the last 30 km or so did hurt (bum and leg muscles along with lower back) – but am definitely feeling a little bit stronger each day. Anyway I thought I thought I would probably go with the racers till lunch. So we go out at a fairly easy pace with quite a big group. Then suddenly Adam gets a flat and drops off and then a little later Paul also gets a flat and drops back. Scott decides they are both hurting from yesterday’s ride and suggests that we go for it – so Yes, why not? A bit cheeky? Maybe!! So we speed up and then the Brams and Dennis get involved and off we go – we are flying – 44kmph/ 46 even. Just flying along! It is really fun and I am having a great time. Yes it hurting but I only intend to race till lunch anyway! So yes – absolutely flying along – for my turns out front I went from 44 to 42 to 38 kmph and then for the last one struggled for 36kmph – so I still don’t have that top speed ability. But the rest of the group are fine and seem happy that I am there. We get to lunch at 75 km and it’s sausages for lunch! Great!! The rest of the group carry on but I stay at lunch longer and have a great time. There was a sign saying “Only 3 sausages per person!” Then a big group of riders arrive but I saw Adam and Paul ride straight through without stopping. I immediately announced, “I am eating Adam and Paul’s sausages – they have just missed lunch!” Everyone laughed! Then I headed out with the second group on the road. We rode really well together this afternoon and had a great ride. Still a fairly flat road – I was starting to hurt a little on the last section of the ride. At about 10 km out there was a petrol station so Steven and I stopped to stock up on drinks, chocolate and crisps. Then there were just the two of us for the final 10 km ride. I felt I should continue my “training” so rode pretty hard for that final 10 km to camp with Steve following me in. Pretty nice to be at camp by midday for a half day’s rest. It was a really nice ride! Ended up we put our tents up and then went into town did some shopping and ate some pizza! Truck driver Steve said he would set up the BBQ tonight if we all bought some meat – so we bought steaks – about 20 of us – plus some wine and beer! That evening we all sat round the fire grilling our steaks – they were pretty good and cheap too! I had so much fun at the BBQ – feel these people are such good friends now – we have been through a lot together and had some great experiences. It was so cool to sit around eating and drinking – a couple of people had guitars and so there was some singing as well! It was a really fun night – I really enjoyed it! Off to bed at 10 pm though!!