Harbor to the Bay

On Saturday, September 17 I did Harbor to the Bay, a 120-mile ride from Boston to Provincetown to raise money for AIDS organizations in Massachusetts. It was a GREAT time. We had perfect weather--a little cool when I left my house at 4:45 (sigh...), but by Mile 30 it had warmed up nicely and I shed my extra layers to ride in my shorts and jersey. Things I love about this ride:

• 100% of the money raised goes to charity.
• The ride is marshaled by an all-female biker club called the Moving Violations, who ride alongside us on their Harleys and stop traffic at intersections. They don't have a permit to do this. It's just that no one in their right minds would mess with them.
• We are cheered on by elaborately dressed drag queens in convertibles.
• 120 miles makes all food--cold pizza, PB&J, whatever--taste good.

There were five of us in my group and we set a nice, leisurely pace; we averaged 15.4 and lingered at a lot of the pit stops, so we left Copley Square at 6:30 and arrived in Provincetown at 5:30, which included a ride time of 7:51. I felt great, if a bit sleepy; I got home at 11:30 and then got up the next morning for a slow 50-mile recovery ride. Total charity miles to date: 824.