The total fitness level of the group is at its lowest in at least three years due to the lack of impending Death Ride.
We are also doing this ride later in the year than usual, so most of the nice green grass is gone. Marcin is wearing his usual grin of pain on this hill.
For a while, I had a nice view of Daniel and James's backs. Then they rode away from me. The yellow flowers along the road were particularly gigantic this year.
We breathe that stuff.
Kostadis coming up the hill. Slowly. Yes, his tongue is in fact hanging out.
Daniel, on the other hand, is relaxed and cool at the Joe Grant rest stop.
Break after the second descent. I am too lazy to stand up and am taking pictures while lying on the ground.
Kostadis and James, going over the power bar conversation yet again.
This tree had lots of little holes drilled in the bark, presumably by woodpeckers.
Triumphant picture on the top. We lost Marcin along the way, but instead ran into Google Ed (from the 2002 ride) at the observatory.
Aha, Marcin coming up the final switchback...
...using a slightly different mode of transportation. He had to turn around 5 miles from the top because of tendinitis in his knees. So he rode down, got into his car, and came right back up. That's dedication!
The entire gang of idiots. Kostadis definitely approves of this, but probably not James.
"My name is Kostadis, and I AM CANADIAN!"