April 28 - Day 110

Today was another off road day but surprise, surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon portion of the ride.   The afternoon section was on hard packed freshly graded gravel/dirt.  It was almost like pavement.  When we hit it, amazement filled my mind.  My legs could not believe it and asked to be released.  I granted their request and let them run.  And run they did.  I was hitting 45 kph on flat sections.  Can you believe that?  I know I couldn't.  It refreshed my joy of cycling and replaced the drudgery of the 10-12 kph that I had been slugging it out under.  What a great feeling.  

And there was one section where...

Yes!  You recognized it.  It was paved!!!  As we came into the little town of Helmeringhausen we were thoroughly bedazzled with the appearance of real asphalt pavement.  The only sad part was that the pavement ended at the town limit.  :(   But it was the first pavement we have seen in weeks!

The ride took us through areas that reminded me of the southwest US.  We rode along canyons and plateaus.  Here are some pictures of the views we saw today....

Very interesting that the one lone rock is balanced on top of the peak.

The heat of the day is making riding a chore in the afternoon.  We start out in the morning shivering in our light windbreakers but by 8:30 the temp has climbed to the point where we shed them.  Then by 11:00 we are sweating profusely and by 1:00 the sun has put us on high bake.  Kind of reminiscent of biking the desert in Sudan.