GCC Day 1 Ride – 27.3 Miles 🚴♀️
Day one is in the books! I logged 27.3 miles today on the Winter Garden Trail, starting at the downtown Winter Garden parking garage and riding between the Apopka Vineland trailhead and Killarney Station.
It was a windy one—gusts over 16 mph made for a real workout. It took me about 2.5 hours, but this challenge isn’t about time, it’s about the miles.
While riding, I thought about a book I love, Where’s the Next Shelter? by Gary Sizer, about hiking the Appalachian Trail. In it, he talks about “hiking your own hike”—whether fast or slow, taking a ‘zero day’ when needed, with lots of breaks or none, everyone supports each other’s journey. I feel the same way about riding: ride your own ride.
Some folks are what I call the “rabbit rabbits,” zooming past at 15–20 mph. Me? I’m more of a tortoise—steady and determined, mile after mile. The point is just to get out there and enjoy the ride.
Truth be told, if I were on my two-wheeled bike, I probably wouldn’t have gone as far today. Those winds can wear you down! But on this ride, I found my rhythm, and it felt great.
Here’s to many more miles ahead. 🐢🚴♀️🐇
Trail Tales 
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