Fred "the mule" here.  It's Monday night (July 23) I am at home now with another WRFB Ride to the Beach in the books for 2012.  I took some pictures along the way... 

Our first stop at mile 50 in Denton, NC Friday July 20.  The first 50 posed a serious challenge for Lance (or should we rename him LOST) Karpinski.  Lost 3 water bottles, a couple CO2 cartridges, his computer and virginity - well he lost that a long time ago - all in the first 50!  A lesser man would have cried, Lance (Lost) just kept mumbling something about Ken is really gonna hear about this piece of #$&* bottle holder...

Our first stop at Mile 50...

Phillip either won the lottery or just farted.

We are 50 miles in and Carl is already bored!

We depart Denton and head to Troy with the Golden Arches dancing in our heads for lunch.  I notice every time Phillip gets in front, the hand hits the ipod nano and up goes the volume and the pace!  I HAVE GOT TO GET HIS PLAY LIST! The climb up HWY 109 proves undaunting for most of the team except the mule struggles (as usual) on the climb bringing up the rear.  The WRFB Team awaits patiently for me at the top.  Little do I know a truck with trailer in tow decides to zip around me and then take a right turn in front of me - I could not see straight from the climb!  Carl JUMPS to my defense, the truck stops and a very nice gentleman gets out of the truck.  Carl and the gentleman exchange pleasantries and soon we are off to enjoy lunch... only we get separated AND our leader can't find the golden arches.  After 2 stops and many turns we hook up with Phillip and Jim and its off to lunch.  Troy continues to give us bad luck with the directions.

After denigrating another fast food establishment with our road funk, we head to Candor and then onto Pinebluff (our new 2012 stopping point for day1).  We of course have to make a stop at the Triple L Farm - the best bike rest stop on the planet.  Where else can you get a can of coke and a peach for a dollar, no tax all in A BUCK, and a double scoop ice cream cone for $2.50!  

recarbing with some peach ice cream.

I gotta get my billable hours in...

WRFB Team at the BEST bike stop on the planet - Triple L Farms, Somewhere, BFNC

We check with the Lovely Little Lady of Triple L (get it triple L) to ensure our directions are good only to learn our deepest fears... DIRT ROADS!  Our road to Green Leaf Inn - Thunder Road - is a dirt road. LLL of Triple L gives us an alternate route and we are off.  After a "cramp stop" for Gumby and another from yours truly we come to a convenience store to hydrate and seek some addition directions and not a bit too soon, as a T Storm hits.  Our faithful leader grabs a map - YES A PAPER MAP - we get our bearings and we are off again after the storm.  We come to HWY 1 and still are unable to find the Green Leaf Inn.  I head across the HWY to seek directions form some very nice construction guys and learn that we are indeed on Thunder Road and it is NOT dirt but rather newly paved.  Gonna have a word with the LLL of Triple L next year.  Green Leaf is just a few hundred yards away.  In the mean time, Phillip has turned up his nano again and jumped behind a car on HWY 1 to draft to see if the Inn is just down the road.  Yep there it is.  We all jump on the HWY and arrive safely at the Inn.  It's 3:30, we are soaking wet, tired and we have traveled 118 miles.

Hmmm is it... Boy am I glad to be done today or Carl you are looking mighty good in those crocs or Pitrone shots for $5.00 bring me 10!  I must add - LOOK AT THE SIGN BEHIND THE WELCH BOYS!

A great night at the Green Leaf Inn.  They have a working pool but unfortunately thunder storms.  We find the Inn has a nice bar with a super comfy couch.  Lance (Lost) and Gumby head to a bike shop in Pinehurst so Lance can upgrade.  Jim, Phillip and Mule find $1.00 drafts, really cheap Pitrone shots AND a cute waitress - DANGER DANGER DANGER!  Well we live up to our team name, have a great (OK good) dinner and head to bed after settling up the bill.  Appetizer, dinner, 2 shots, several beers - $20! OK I love this place!

We rise Saturday to another HOT HUMID (and headachey) day.  Continental breakfast - NOT - Lance and Mule off to biscuitville to save the day.  We scarf down several biscuits and hit the road.  Mule is nervous about the new route!  Fortunately all is well and arrive in Red Springs with no problems - and no lost equipment.  I slight direction challenge departing Red Springs and its off the the Hardies in St Paul for lunch.  We are warned about the unsafe convenience store across from the Hardies, so we send Phillip.

If my burger doesn't come soon I am going to eat that the directions!

Why did I let them talk me into this again!

All is good.  New route and roads prove to be pretty good, although Jim really needs to work on calling out holes in the roads.  Come On Man!  

It's HOT, it's HUMID, we have been on the road a while and we need a break.  There is a shade tree AND a watermelon stand.  Our leader ponies up the good will cash and arrives with melon in hand.  One toss on the ground and the red flesh proves irresistible.  We devour the watermelon in nothing flat  and hit the road. We arrive at the Econlodge, hot, sweaty, tired and ready to hit the pool!  It's 2:00, we are thirsty, hot and have traveled 90 Miles Saturday June 21.  Our SAG support is off to the movies - no clothes BUT they did leave the cooler - with WARM BEER!  Gumby needs to have a chat with those boys.  But alas the Econolodge is now the EconoSUCKS!  They do NOT have our rooms ready AND The pool is closed.  As a matter of fact, we learn that all the pools in the greater White Lake area are out of order.  Phillip has a business idea...  As THE leader of WRFB, Gumby takes off on his bike in search of our magic elixir.  Success.  We denigrate yet another hotel lobby!  Our rooms are finally ready, the SAG boys return and normality is restored to the ride.  

Man is it humid outside!  Oh yeah, look what he is hauling - a TRUE WHEEL RIDE FOR BEER MAN!

EconoSUCKS!  No pool AGAIN!

The SAG boys (more than) make up for their movie tardiness and drive the Team to an awesome mexican sports bar.  5 large Dos Equis, fresh table side made guacamole, awesome chips and salsa and dinner then back to EconSUCKS.  Gumby and Phillip (the light weights) head home.  Jim, Lance and Mule stay behind to solidify the WRFB Team motto... another beer and tequila shot. A brotherhood reminder photo is sent to the Welch "boys" with quite a revealing reply.... let's just say one of them really made an ass of himself.  The SAG boys arrive, we make a quick detour (just in time) to ABC for Sunday morning spirits and off to bed. 

Breakfast 6:15 at the Waffle International.  The team is quiet, reserved, 3 of us more quiet than the other 2.  Big breakfast (lots of alleve) and we are soon off to Sunset early to beat the traffic.  A brisk pace ensues, there are no eye injuries and we arrive safely (and quickly) to sunset.  It's 9:30, we have traveled 40 miles Sunday July 23.

Sunday morning at Sunset - what's wrong with this picture?

Sunday morning at Sunset and STILL NO drinks in our hands!

The team is greeted by the non riding Welch brother and their parents,  The team is also ready to celebrate with some Sunday morning bloody mary's.  But alas NO MIX!  A quick road trip for mix and, hey we are hungry - 2#'s of shrimp.  Shrimp are boiled, bloody mary's made and life is good.  We sit under the house in the shade reminiscing the ride.  Phillip is still hungry... we order shrimp burgers, just one will do, we just ate 2#'S OF SHRIMP!  Phillip knows this team well and with the best call for the day orders 10 burgers and 4 fries.  The burgers (all 10!) are devoured, bloodmary's enjoyed and man its great to be done.  We head to the ocean, ride some waves, play some beer bocci and enjoy the day.

I really enjoyed the ride!  All in all 248 miles from my door to Sunset over 3 days with an average speed of 18.8 mph.  Not too bad for a bunch of beer drinking, going blind middle aged guys.

You guys are great and I look forward to our next challenge.

Why do we do this again... OH YEAH!

Fred "the mule"
Monday, July 23.