Literally.  Well, I wasn’t literally making hay, but the sun was definitely shining.  I went for a particularly fantastic ride today.

 Here was the strategy (and I highly recommend it!)–

Our favorite local place for dim sum opens at 11 on Sundays, so I slept late, had a glass of orange juice and a cup of my favorite tea (it’s an unnamed loose-leaf that my dad brought back from India, and I absolutely love it.  It’s smooth, deep-flavored, and it is the most caffeinated thing I’ve ever consumed.  The first time I tried it, I had two cups on an empty stomach, and thought I was going to pass out.  I turned so pale my son noticed–he never notices anything).  Anyway–I put my bike and my clothes in the car, and we went for dim sum.  I ate with impunity, clearing all the plates and finishing everyone else’s little bits and bobs.  Great way to start the day!

 I changed clothes in the bathroom, and headed out from there.  I went out Davis Dr., which is nice and quiet on a Sunday, then turned around and came back.  At the 22 mile mark, I stopped off at Inside Out Sports in Cary, where I was meeting my friend Amelia.  She wanted to test-ride a triathlon bike, so we headed out from there and rode 20 miles together (the Triangle Triathlon course, for hills, and then Aviation Pkway through Morrisville to Davis Dr. for some flatter bits), chatting and analyzing the cool bike.  Having a bit of company in the middle of what would otherwise been a solo ride is great, and I don’t see this particular friend all that often, and we almost never get to ride together, so that really added to my day.  Thanks Amelia!

 Anyway, I dropped her back off at the shop, and turned toward home for the last 18 miles.  And once you get down below 20, it seems like you’re almost done, so I just relaxed and enjoyed the weather.  The temperature dropped all the way down to 68 by the time I got home.  Can’t beat that in January!

Tomorrow’s supposed to be another fabulous day, but the offspring will be home and the honey won’t, so I think I’ll be Meanie-Head Mommy and make the children help me do yard work.  Luckily for me, I love that almost as much as cycling.  Too bad the children don’t love it.