After lung surgery in December, and chemotherapy from February to April, I've been having a tough time recovering. My endurance seems to be slowly coming back, but I still seem to have no strength on the bike, and struggle to drag myself up any hill.
 
But, I decided it was time to attempt my first century of the year, at the Fort Worth Bicycling Association club ride today, called Bardwell or Bust. Today was typical almost-June Texas weather, sunny, humid, a howling south wind, and a high in the mid 90's. The cue sheet that Jim Burrow, the ride leader, had emailed me showed an actual distance of 93 miles for the 100 mile route, so I arrived at the ride start early, and rode 7 miles on my own. I figured my first century of the year should really be 100 miles.
 
Before I left home for the ride, I grabbed Rose's camera. I figured since I'm only capable of "stop and smell the roses" speed right now, I might as well really stop and smell the roses, so I actually took some photos.
 
We rolled out of the town square of Venus at 8:00 am. Our first stop was at the town of Maypearl at mile 18.4. The next stop was mile 35 at Italy. There, all of the other riders in the group I was riding with (translation: slow riders) split off to ride the shorter routes, so I ended up riding the next 20 miles to Ennis alone. When I pulled into the store at the stop there, on a bench in front of the store sat none other than Mark Metcalfe, along with randonneuring acquaintance, Cheri Brown. It seems I had caught Mark on one of his rare easy pace days, and I did the rest of the ride with Mark and Cheri.
 
I ended up with 100.1 miles, with a blazing on-the-bike average of 15.1 mph. The route had 3400 feet of climbing. This has to be the longest overall century time I've ever done, but hey, I did finish, and at this point, I'll take that.
 
The start/finish at the town square of Venus.
 

 
The first stop at Maypearl. In case we needed cigarettes, they were on sale.
 

 
I stopped on the bridge over Lake Bardwell, my favorite crappie fishing spot, and took this photo.
 

 
Cheri and Mark.
 

 
After I joined up with Cheri and Mark.
 

 
Riding across Clark Lake.
 

 
Cheri and I at the last rest stop in Waxahachie.
 

Bud ,congratulations & "good job"! You continue to be an inspiration to all of that ride. And look at you snapping pictures on the ride...a regular John Sadowski/Paul Brown.  
 
Did you bring your fishin' pole with you when you rode across your "spot" on Lake Bardwell??

All right, BUD!!  (Good pics, too!!!)

Way to go Bud! You have true grit! Probably from all that time out there in Midland!