On the 5

I have driven the I-5 from San Diego to Seattle but I had not ridden on it till today. Here I am sitting on a freeway that I have spent a lot of time on in a car. It was almost surreal. My mind floated memories in and out. Driving to work in Tacoma, heading to a Mariners game in Seattle, going to pick up Christine from work at Southcenter Mall, on vacation from _______ (name a town we've lived in), rolling to the Dunfords in Cali, heading home from Burbank, and then a semi buzzed me. I had to get back in the game. In fact, I believed for a long time that it was illegal to ride a bike on the interstate. When JD and I were driving back from HHH last August, I remember seeing several guys riding on the I-40 and thinking that they were crazy for riding on the interstate, especially in the middle of no where. So today, when Rick asked me to ride home with him he mentioned having to ride on the I-5.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Nope, only in town."

He was right. There was no sign when getting on the interstate that said no bicycles or other unmotorized vehicles. There was a lot of traffic traveling fast. Lucky for us we were only on the interstate for about a mile. We had to get on the interstate to cross the Willamette rather than take a few mile detour.

I have been riding my bike to work the last few days. It has been nice getting up early and riding in. I challenged myself yesterday and rode up a two mile hill averaging over 8%. Nothing like getting up and taking a little climb. I am sitting on the bike, looking down at 14% thinking to myself, JD would like this pain while memories of the Col de Hamilton floated threw my mind. The intensity was the same just not as long. The next century is in two weeks and I will be ready. The riding so far this week has been right on point. I am aiming for over 120 this week. We'll see how the ride goes on Saturday.

(Christine is at Girls Camp all week - this is why the post - I've gotten tired of beating Craig at Madden)