Day 1 - The First Ride is in the Bag

Just got into St. Helens.  Perfect weather - perfect conditions (except for the logging trucks that scream by you at 70 mph).  A couple long hill climbs (4-5 miles) with equally long downhills.  There is nothing better than seeing the sign "Slow Lane Ending" and nothing worst than seeing the sign "Slower traffic use climbing lane).

Before we left we got a group picture in our "riding colors"...

A fine set of people for sure.  

It was a nice ride.  Not too long for the first day.  About 3/4 of the way into the ride we saw our end goal for this week.... Mount Hood.

I am told by the end of the week we will be right at the base of the mountain.  Please note the damn hills that we have to climb to get there.  

A couple of readers wanted to know what I am eating so I thought I would share with you the day's ride statistics.  

Summary

Distance:	69.66 mi
Time:	5:40:00
Avg Speed:	12.3 mph
Calories:	2,851 C
Avg Temperature:	60.0 °F

It looks like that when we get into the swing of things (8-10 hours of riding) and start doing the average daily mileage of 79, I'll probably be burning close to 4000 - 6000 calories, maybe more.  So the answer to the question what do you eat?  Answer - Anything you damn well  please.  

Having said this last night's dinner sucked.  They gave us cheap Mexican food.  First, it was not that good.  The guy from Taco Bell that was caught licking the taco shells would have been better.  Second, the choice of Mexican food for the first night - just after you meet your new "roomie" for the first time is probably a real bad choice of cuisines.  I mean you are going to be with this guy for 50 nights.  I personally wanted to leave him with a good impression of my personal bedtime hygiene.  And I am sure he wanted to do the same.  

But Mexican beans - come on!

So not sure what great surprise we have for dinner tonight - but I have to log off here.  It seems that just around the corner is a drive-through coffee bar where the women serve you espresso in Bikinis.  Got to go check this out.  Perhaps Dunkin Donuts might consider launching this as a new promotional campaign.  

Finally it is clear we are the biggest thing to hit St. Helen in a long time (or at least since last year).

So another night in beautiful Oregon.  Sleep well.