A rest day and a chance to reflect (not something I tend to do much of). There are just four of us left in the EFI (every f**king inch) club - Jeff, Joseph, Bill and myself. BTW, Bill is 64 and a very strong rider about to complete a trip across the country - so there is lots of time for the rest of us to get going! So far (let's not jinx it) we've avoided sickness, accidents and sheer exhaustion to stay on our bikes. While I'm not sure that the low number of EFI members is the best ad for this trip, it does demonstrate how hard it can be (and therefore how satisfying it can be).
William is a member of his very own club - the "dogged determination" club. He came into this trip with the least amount of training and (this may be doing him a disservice) as the oldest member of the group. He got sick, he was exhausted at times, and he had a horrible bang up in the same accident that caused Dana's fractured elbow. Through it all he just persevered. He was forced to get off his bike a couple of times, but he remains my vote for the toughest member of our group.
The two J's - Jeff and Joseph - have been the strongest riders throughout. For me, they have made this entire ride MUCH faster and MUCH tougher than it would have been without them here pushing me almost every pedal stroke. Between this and their friendship, they have also made it MUCH more fun than it would have been without them. Thanks guys!
And then there are our four guides. Each with their distinct personality, each making this a great experience in their own unique way. This group makes or breaks a ride like this and, trust me, they've made it great - so far!
OK - enough reflection for now. Jeff and I just toured downtown Nashville and had lunch at the "famous" Tootsies, complete with live entertainment. Dinner this evening at a local establishment of some kind, then it's back on the road for 126 miles of climbing enjoyment tomorrow.
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