Day 12 - Mena to Monticello - A Mellow day

Today was a mellow day, everyone is still exhausted from the Talimena Parkway.  We start in three groups every morning fast, medium and slower.  Lon had a hard time getting  many people to start in the fast group this morning.

Our group of five started next and we kept up a steady 18+ mph pace all day to come in among the early finishers.  We are riding really well together and are in sync as we sail along, trading off every 1/2 mile or so.  There were quite a few hills early on, but as the day went on the road flattened out - great for covering a lot of ground quickly in a pace line.  There weren't a lot of scenic highlights, but seeing lots of green grass and trees after the desert days is still nice on the eyes.

I took some pictures of our group early on:

Clay at 9:00a

Will 9:00a

 

Later on, near the end of the ride, it was a little less glamorous

Clay at 5:30, just before we finished

 

 

Brian near the finish

 Susan Notorangelo rode with our group for a good part of the last leg - she is planning to ride the Furnace Creek 508 in October in a team event with three other woman riders from the early RAAM days.

 



Tomorrow is another long day, 188 miles of flatter terrain to Kosclusko, Mississippi.  We are in the stretch, five more days to go, 800 miles or so.