Today we checked out the new Peach West Route. We had a beautiful day today, sunny and felt like it got up to 72. Terri, Rox, Rick and I showed up for the large route, while Jason, Robert and Bill joined for the medium.

We were all supposed to ride the first 18 together, and get water at the school but we got carried away riding together as a group, and when we hit the 50mi rest stop at mile 33 I figured out that we had missed the first big gravel loop. We thought about going back after it, but it was 10mi away, so we would have a total of 80miles. We collaborated and came up with riding the small loop we had just finished backward, and riding back to about mile 10, then ride the route backwards to the start, to finish at right about 60mi. We actually came up with a good little plan at that Phillips 66 and executed it really well. We all agreed that the gravel was great. Having missed the big gravel loop, the gravel to pave was probably 50/50, where it would have been about 60/40.

The wind was brutal, every time we got on the road, we were in 8mph headwinds with about 20mph gusts. It was nice at one point though, as we had to wait on a train in the shade we had a nice 10 minute cooldown around mile 50.

When I drove the route last weekend, it had rained for two days. There were a couple of descents that were so muddy that I slid the Subaru down them. The roads are a mix of about 60/40 red or brown clay and sand. I suspected, having had a warm week with no rain, there would be a lot of sandy ruts, but no. Clanton roads drain the rain so well, and most have some great grippy hard pack. We theorized on the ride today that the sand being mixed into the clay makes it porous, and lets the water drain out. It can come a guzzle, and that stuff is still so fast.

There were several annoying steep climbs, but none were too long. We really need to go back and check out the big loop on the large route soon. We did see some rooster teepees today, but we missed a lot of skinny chikens running in the road. What a great day in the country with friends. Thanks everybody for coming out. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fy56zjjiz5yriefqhe8z3/AI_Nk6hRRSDOe0Ws0e2khPs?rlkey=7dff89vrei8bwq4lhqwo9qyoi&dl=0