Yanagisawa Pass - First Adventure on the RAMAX

The RAMAX ... looking down at Enzan/Koshu

The sky bridges of Route 411 just SW of Yanagisawa Pass

Jerome and I had planned to join a 200km R-Tokyo brevet on Sunday March 13, part of our qualifying for Cascade 1400.  That was postponed when Kanagawa prefecture extended its "manenboshi" (prevent the spread) anti-Covid-19 measures. Different Audax clubs have different rules about Covid-19, including some rides that have been adjusted to allow a start at any point during a one week timeframe, avoiding any crowds or groups, and so can proceed during "manenboshi". But this R-Tokyo event was supposed to be a traditional brevet with everyone starting on Sunday morning 7AM (in waves 5 minutes apart). So it was postponed to a date TBD.

Jerome rode on Saturday ... so I headed out Sunday morning early with the goal to do a good training ride, at least as much work as the 200km R-Tokyo event (a mountain-free course full of short up/down sections along the eastern edge of the Saitama hills from Kawasaki to Yorii and back). Peter J. had recently ridden over Yanagisawa Pass ... which got me thinking that I had not do so in several years. It is one of the true long climbs in Kanto, to a peak at just under 1500 meters elevation and with lots of repeated up/down in between Okutama-ko and the beginning of the real climb just west of Tabayama. In summer, there are enough sun-exposed stretches that it can be unpleasant, but on a mid-March day, it would be perfect.

This was my first real ride on the RAMAX "(Randonneuring Adventure MAXimum") bike. I had the "loaner" wheels, including the very colorful rear rim, and had not yet changed the Challenge Gravel Grinder tires. They seemed to roll smoothly on my way back to Takasaki a few days earlier -- and they are excellent tires for their intended purpose! Based upon bicyclerollingresistance.com, however, it looked as of they would add 10-15 watts per wheel of rolling resistance riding on a smooth road, as compared to the types of "slick" wheels I would typically ride.  And each one weights 415 grams, plus tubes, so heavier as well. But, I thought, what if I have the energy for a rindo detour onto gravel -- perhaps they would come in handy? And I was not out to--nor in condition to--break any records, so did not mind the marginal loss.

The bike performed well. I like the handling as I climb, especially the neutral, solid feeling as I get off the seat and work the pedals (not quite "dancing on the pedals," but close). I tweaked the seat position -- a bit higher and farther back -- to get closer to ideal.  After the ride, I swapped out the 110mm stem for a 120mm one, moved the seat a wee bit forward, and now it is juuust right.

End of the Tamagawa Path - Hamura, Almost to Oume

It was an uneventful ride up the Tamagawa to the end of the path just before Oume. There was a large group of men standing in the river, some fishing, some watching. I don't recall seeing this kind of spectacle at this spot before. I continued on after filling my water bottles and consuming banana from my back pocket.

Curbside dining in Okutama Machi (in front of Daily Yamazaki)

I stopped again at Okutamamachi near the Station -- last convenience store until Enzan, if memory serves. I chatted briefly with another rider who I had been playing leap frog with. I got the only onigiri in the Daily Yamazaki store, heading out just before he came in.  An hour or more later, as I left Yakyutei at the far end of Lake Okutama after a bowl of udon, the same rider was again approaching.

Entrance to the Nokogiri Climb off Route 411.

The traditional food stop at west end of Lake Okutama

Hazy sunlight at the west end of Lake Okutama

I liked the mix of traditional house, laundry drying, and construction equipment here.

The weather by now was warm enough that I pulled down my arm warmers/covers -- just riding with short sleeve jersey and bib shorts, and changed to the half-finger gloves for the first time this year.  Tabayama was looking very relaxed, people eating lunch on the terrace overlooking the river, flags flapping in the breeze (that seemed, now, as if it might push me a wee bit up the hill). 

Tabayama Michi-no-Eki

Tabayama - onsen from michi-no-eki

Finally on the real climb

A short rest around 1150m elevation ... 

Then I was onto the climb - nearly 800 meters up from here.  There was ongoing highway work on each side of Yanagisawa Pass ever since I first climbed it nearly 15 years ago. I remember climbing Yanagisawa with Jerome in 2009, our last massive training ride before Transalp (we tacked on Odarumi -- nearly 2000 meters elevation gain from Enzan to the top AFTER Yanagisawa on that hot day). I remember riding Sasago/Kamihikawa/Yanagisawa Passes as a series in the other direction once while training for Transalp in 2009, and again in 2011. And I remember riding this pass in the first brevet I ever joined, a 400km Kanagawa Audax event in late 2009. Well, the last tunnels and skybridges are now done and the only work in progress is some minor curve/shoulder improvements that does not involve a tunnel or bridge.  There was at least one tunnel on each side of the pass I have not gone through before ... how many years since I took this route? At least 3 or 4 years. Too long. I should do it at least yearly. 

I climbed slowly. I need to do a lot more rides like this if I am going to be in shape for Cascade 1400. 

At the pass ... I did not stop for food here today, though we often do.

No view of Fuji today ... and a decidedly unfriendly sign warning that for non-customers
the parking (even for bicycles) requires payment. Reminiscent of Wada Pass in the old days.

The descent into Enzan was fun as always. Perhaps I went a bit slower than normal, cautious during my first long descent on the RAMAX. But I felt confident the entire time. I turned left to join a road that goes diagonally down to the "Fruit Line" and continued (up and down and up and down) on the Fruit Line past Katsunuma and to Route 20 (Koshu Kaido). Then I did another climb to the entrance of Sasago Tunnel. I thought about a side trip on the deserted old road over Sasago Pass, as when Jerome and I did this combination of passes in 2016 ... but prudence is the better part of valor. Through the tunnel, I made a fast descent to Otsuki, grabbed some tasty Family Mart "nama pasta", and went fast again to Uenohara. 

At 182 kms, I thought about continuing to Takao to clear 200 ... or riding home from Mitaka or similar to Takanawa, also to get an extra 20kms. But I noticed that somehow three spokes on the non-drive side of the loaner rear wheel had gotten so loose that the spoke nipples had dropped off and into the wheel well. The wheel still felt rock solid ... but there is a limit to the number of spokes you can lose without the wheel becoming dangerous!  I should have checked the wheel's spoke tension before riding it. But I had gotten AT LEAST as much work in as if I had done the 200km brevet course east of the mountains, so I was not going to sit in the dark, take the tire and rim tape off, try to fish out the spoke nipples and re-tension it. Instead I declared my mission accomplished, hopped the train home, and fixed the wheel the following day.

Paris Brest Paris (PBP) -- Only One More Qualifier Left for Jerome

This weekend Jerome completed the Velo Club Aoba randonneurs' "super 400" brevet.

Lots and lots of climbing

The event had around 6000 meters of elevation gain, hence the "super" designation. It started with the gradual climb to Lake Okutama then on to Yanagisawa Pass (elev. 1475m), then dipped down to Kofu, Elev. low.

The riders then climbed up to Shinshu Pass (elev. 1500m) , with some extra riding around the Crystal Line area on the Yamanashi/Nagano border, before dipping into Nagano through Kawakami-Mura, back through Nobeyama and down to Minami Alps/Kofu area again. 

Finally, there was a climb up to and through the Fuji "five lakes" area - Motosu-ko, Shoji-ko, Sai-ko, Kawaguchi-ko, and Yamanaka-ko (high point "only" elev. 1100), then a descent down Doshi Michi and back to Tokyo.

Only 25km left!

Fortunately, the riders had almost ideal riding weather. Cold in the wee hours up on Mt Fuji, but otherwise fine. None of the ice and snow that hit Jerome last month on a similar VCR Aoba 300k event.

I woke at 4AM and rode out to the Machida/Sagamihara area, past the end of Onekansendoro, to greet Jerome as he came back in. Mindful of the Audax prohibition on assistance by non-entrants, I did not let him draft and stayed away up the road as I rode back in. He was pretty thoroughly knackered, and lay down flat onto his back at the goal.

Reminds me of PBP

VCR Aoba traditional finish at the base of "hospital hill"

We stopped by Seijo Gakuen Starbucks for a quick coffee with the Tokyo Cranks on the way back into town, and I got at least 80km of riding in.

Jerome and I will both try the Okitsu Classic 600km brevet in a few weeks. I am already PBP qualified, but I need at least another 600k to keep up the endurance from Tasmania if I am to do PBP successfully. The Okitsu ride is a very nice course, one I have done twice before but not since 2015, so I look forward to it. Jerome needs this to complete his PBP qualification.

Yanagisawa and Sasago Passes on a Beautiful Day/Night

Jerome and I planned to join the Kumamoto Audax Fleche this weekend with Nagoya-based friends. We were looking forward to riding from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture via Shikoku, and ferry to Oita, and from there on over the shoulder of Mt. Aso and on to Kumamoto.

The organizers cancelled the event within a few hours of Thursday evening's earthquake.  Of course, there was another, even bigger, quake only 28 hours later!  Looking at the massive damage from Saturday morning's BIGGER quake, I was very glad not to have been in Kumamoto on Saturday.

So on Saturday Jerome and I decided to ride into Yamanashi from our homes in Setagaya instead. After a late (930AMish start), we rode via Oume and up the hill to Okutama-ko.

A rider through the trees along the Tamagawa

The Tamagawa/Route 411 just past the Nokogiri Mountain turnoff

At Lake Okutama.  The entire hillside was flowering!

Then lunch at the far end of the lake at Yagyu-tei, our standard cafeteria-style stop.  As always, Mrs. Watanabe greeted us with a smile.

Then a long slog through Tabayama and another 800 meters of elevation gain to Yanagisawa Pass.  Jerome was ahead of me almost the entire climb, until a quick food stop at roadside just below 1200 meters elevation.  He seemed to run out of energy -- to the point I needed to wait 7-8 minutes for his arrival at the pass, unheard of.  He was revived by a soft ice cream cone at the top.

Revived a bit at 1200m elevation for the last push, thanks to a banana and some trail mix!

We had perfect weather for climbing -- not too hot, but not cold either.  Just chilly enough to merit jackets on the descent toward Enzan.  There were spectacular flowering trees both in the wild and in the orchards above Enzan.

Mt. Fuji is somewhere out there in the haze.  I could make out an outline "live".

We returned via the "Fruit Line" and then the old road to Sasago Pass.

Owls big and small watch over the intersection of Route 411 and the Fruit Line

Sunset from the Fruit Line

The old road over the pass was closed ... but it was easy to get around the gate and keep climbing, no one else near.  We quickly came to an obstacle.

But we could climb around one end carrying our bikes, and fortunately did not find any other similar blockages further up the hill.

A terrified Jerome shields his eyes from the witch's gaze.

The witch has taken my bicycle.  I'm done for!

After quick dinner stop outside Otsuki, I hopped a train home and arrived before 1130PM.  Really 165kms and 2500 meters of climbing was plenty, in anticipation of starting the Okayama 1200km randonée at 4AM next Saturday morning.  Jerome, on the other hand, rode the remaining 80km+ home, making it around a 250km day for him with arrival after 1AM.  Being Jerome, I am sure he will recover in time for Okayama.

Sunday Ride -- Yanagisawa

We will ride on Sunday and, given perfect autumn weather, try to get in some distance.

Jerome is staying with Stephen out in Oume (Ikusabata) overnight, so the main rendezvous time/place will be at 10:00AM at the Kori 7-11 convenience store (where Yoshino Kaido cross to the North side of the Tamagawa and ends, about 10 kms beyond Oume).

I will leave my house and pass the corner of Komazawa Dori and Kanpachi at 7:30AM.  It is almost 60 kms to Kori, so you might plan to show up a bit early (7:25) if you want to go out together.  No "15 minute rule" this time.  Leave at 7:30AM sharp (which means no later than 7:35AM).

Here is the planned route to Kori -- drop me an email if you want to meet us somewhere mid-way, so we will look for you.

Or you can take a train to Oume Station and, if you actually leave from there by 9:30, you should be able to get to the rendezvous point in plenty of time.

From Kori, we plan to go over Yanagisawa Pass, which seems somehow to have become Jerome's favorite climb.  Jerome might want to try Odarumi Pass for a second act, since he will have fresh legs from his Oume start ... or maybe Kamihikawa and/or Sasago.   I will take a bike bag since, given those distances, I expect to hop a train home from somewhere in the afternoon, even if I do make it over a second (or third) pass.

Hard Ride

Jerome and I successfully completed the Kanagawa October 6 (to 7) 600 kilometer Brevet.

It was a very hard ride.  8000 meters of climbing or a bit more, with plenty of steep hills even during the last 100 kilometers back into Tokyo.

We finished just after 10PM Sunday evening, 38 hours after the start and about 2 hours slower than other 600km events I have done in the past.  When we finally left the finish area for the drive home about 45 minutes later, the tally remained:  7 finishers, 12 DNFs, and 6 riders still out on the course, with another 1hr 15min left in which to make it back.

Audax Parisien has recently established a new category of event, the "Super Randonee 600".  These are rides of 600 kilometers, with at least 10,000 meters of climbing.  Completing one is now required in order to get one Audax award.  But the Super Randonee 600 events have a 50-hour time limit, instead of the usual 40 hours for a 600 km Brevet.  A good idea.

On the climb to Yanagisawa, river below and steep rock walls above

The weather on Saturday was good.
The weather on Sunday was even better.

The problem was in-between.  It started to rain around 6:30PM Saturday and did not stop completely until Sunday morning around 8AM.  So we were in rain, dark and cold for the climb from Chino up to Lake Shirakaba in Tateshina area, over Daimon Pass (approx Elev 1450 meters) and down a valley to around 600 meters elevation ... and once more back up the North side of the same pass.  This stretch, and the aftermath of riding wet through most of the night to get to the next checkpoint and far enough of schedule for some decent sleep ... claimed most of the DNFs.

SW of Kofu on Saturday afternoon looking to the Japan Alps

More SW of Kofu on Saturday afternoon

I did not get any photos, but the climb up Route 71 through Asakiri Kogen and Kami Kuishiki Mura, was beautiful.  Likewise the village of Saihara on the way up to Tawa Pass and Tsuru Pass -- idyllic Japanese village life, with the crops ready for harvest and the trees just starting to turn colors.

Brevet Training - Yanagisawa and Kazahari

Jerome and I have been a bit nervous about next week's 600km Brevet.  Looking at the course, the climbing goes on and on, and on.  So we decided to try a "test" run and do the first big pass of the event -- Yanagisawa.

We had been thinking about continuing on over Kami Hikawa, but a slow start, an early rest stop at the Seven Eleven a few hundred meters from Wachi-san's bicycle shop in Oume, and my front wheel going flat soon after, put us a bit behind schedule.  We also stopped for food/water refills in Okutama and Tabayama.  And I had some foot pain on the climb, but pretty much resolved it by shifting a cleat on the SPD/MTB shoes I was wearing, requiring another stop.  On the climb, Jerome went ahead and made it up about 10 minutes before me.

The weather was nice, really nice considering typhoons past and future in the forecast.  A bit sticky, but not too warm on the climbs, and not at all cold up on the passes.  A really good, classic ride.

Part of Tabayama just past the main town, including a graveyard with a very nice view.

On the descent, I had fun riding the Canyon, with the HED wheels and clip-on mini aero bars.  I'm more cautious and slower than I used to be, but still hit well over 70 kph on one of the straighter descent stretches.  The tuck position with the aerobars really does increase my speed on the flats by a few kph, while not seeming to require any more work.

By the time we got part of the way down, we were debating whether to do another climb, and which one.  Tsuru?  Kazahari?  Nokogiri?  Tsuru tsuru onsen?   Jerome Hill?  Kazahari won out.

So we ended up with 220 kms and 2500 meters of climbing.  I felt strong on the stretch back from Kazahari, and for once did more than my share of pulling Jerome late in a ride.  Now, if we can just get enough sleep Wed, Thur and Fri nights, we should be ready for next week.

October 6 and 7 Monster Brevet

Jerome and I are signed up for a 600km Brevet sponsored by Kanagawa Audax starting on the morning of Saturday October 6, finishing late afternoon or evening of Sunday October 7.  

This promises to be quite a challenge, with lots of climbing.  I don't believe RidewithGPS's calculation of 16,150 meters elevation gain, but the truth could be around half that.  Rollers and "Jerome Hill" heading north along the edge of the hills out of town toward Okutama, out Route 411 over Yanagisawa Pass (elev. 1475m), the climb to Fujimi (elev 975m, west side of Yatsugatake), climb up over Tateshina/Daimon Pass (elev 1450m+) twice -- both going AND coming, then Fujimi again, then rollers along the Fujikawa west of Mt. Fuji, then a long slog up from near sea level over the west shoulder of Mt. Fuji on Pref. Route 71 (peaking over elev 1100m), then a return into town via Route 20 to Uenohara, a slight detour over Tawa and Tsuru (elev 875m) Passes, and again over "Jerome Hill" and more rollers.

If past years are any guide, early October can be ideal riding weather, and many sections will have very light traffic when ridden off peak hours.  Of course, the weather has been a bit unusual this year ... so no promises.

AJ Kanagawa website: 

http://www.aj-kanagawa.org/2012-brm/...6sagamihara600

Sign up on Sportsentry (1300 yen for Audax Japan members, 2500 yen for non-members, unsupported ride):
http://venus.sportsentry.ne.jp/event.php?tid=28800

Time to Climb - Sasago, Kamihikawa, Yanagisawa

Inspired by tales of the Positivo Espresso Europe ("pee") training camp in Mallorca, still trying to catch up with my own Transalp training after too many weekends off the bike from mid-February through March (work, earthquake, visit to the U.S. with my son, etc., etc.), and with spectacular weather forecast, it was time for a big ride, with some real climbs.  I thought I should return to Kamihikawa Pass, a long climb that was one of the key days on my April 2009 Transalp training.

Jerome and I left early and rode together out One-Kan and the tank road, and as far as the South side of Tsukui-ko. From there Jerome headed for Yabitsu Pass and then on to Zushi to meet some business contacts for an early lunch.  I continued on to the West, joined Rte 20 and took it as far as Sasago -- cannot hurt to ride the first leg of Tokyo-Itoigawa a few times this year to have it fresh in my mind for May 21, and traffic was light after Uenohara.

Resting before the Sasago climb, in Euro-cylist gear -- Assos jersey, bib shorts, socks and (not visible) inner layer today, with plenty of white (though the shoes are red and silver/grey).

I left the main road for the always beautiful climb up to Sasago Pass (1050 meters). 

The ghosts were nowhere to be seen in the sunlight today, but I felt their cold breath in the haunted tunnel.

Entering Koshu City, at Sasago Pass.

Even Route 20 looked nice today -- this photo in front of from the Kai Yamato 7-11.

After the descent, I stopped for spaghetti at the 7-11 in Kai Yamato, then headed up Kami-Hikawa. 

The town was full of sakura, still in bloom.

If this is Yamanashi, then there must have been a battle involving the Takeda family nearby ... this statue of Takeda Katsuyori ko, 4th son of Takeda Shingen. 

In this case, it was the last stand of the Takeda, against the Tokugawa, in the battle of Tenmokuzan -- Takeda Katsuyori died in Tano (田野), early in the climb up the Hikawa.

Kami-Hikawa was just as long as I remembered it, from 650 meters elevation at the base of the Sasago descent up to 1625 meters, just above Kamihikawa Pass.  But it was not quite as steep, perhaps, as the impression from my first visit.


Then a second refueling stop with Houtou (Yamanashi flat noodles in miso broth, with vegetables and, the house specialty, pork that had been marinated in wine), and then the last climb of the day up to Yanagisawa, followed by the long ride back to Oume.  At 210 km and 3400 meters of climbing, I hopped the train home at Oume.

I took the big climbs slowly, but had better legs than in 2009, managing a third pass (Yanagisawa) and a much longer ride this year.  Now I just need to get faster.

The Wild Sheep Hunt

Yesterday, Tom rode the giant Yanagizawa Loop, consisting of the climbs to Yanagizawa, Kamihikawa, Sasago, Suzugane, Hinazuru und some other minor ones. Today, David, Jerome and me did the same loop. Almost.

Well, at least that was the plan, when the three remaining Positivo Espresso founding members gathered at Tamagawahara-Bashi at 7:30 AM. The (former) Tamagawa bicycle path, now a major walking path for the hanami-crazy, was full of people so we decided after a while to ride the normal road up to Ome.

Which brings me to the discussion about the Tamagawa path and the recently added obstacles (see for example here). Honestly, I don't care. I don't even want to put the argument forward that riding along the Tamagawa is boring and not very challenging and that I have been there a hundred times. Yes, all true but not of general interest. The point is, in my opinion, that the sum of total obstacles doesn't increase too much, if some fixed obstacles are added to the enormous number of moving ones.

There were simply not that many people when I started to ride along the Tamagawa about ten years ago: people, people with dogs and bicycle riders on the path. It was a fast and simple way to get out of metropolitan Tokyo. But by now, this has changed dramatically: too many moving obstacles. Even if the speed bumbs will be removed, that wouldn't change too much.

So, riding the (normal) road to Ome was comparatively much more pleasant and we were speeding towards our target like a fusillade of human bullets shot from an AK-47. Or perhaps more like a set of RPGs, given the shape of our bodies.

And so we arrived in Ome in 2 hours and 5 minutes - from my home in Yokohama that is. It cannot be done faster (today). And after a short break at Aurore bakery, we continued our fast ride towards Okutama and further up to the Okutama lake, without any longer breaks. This was the first time that I did the stretch between Ome and Yanagizawa in one go and as you can see on the right side this has now become the CHO TOGEBAKA (cho, in the double meaning of 長い and 超える), given the distance and elevation conquered. This is the mother of all Toge Baka (so far).

Now, when we made the turn at Okutama lake, Jerome was shouting from the top in front of me. Actually he told me, that we should wait for David who was further behind. But I didn't understand that properly, plus I didn't saw Jerome waiting, so I was assuming that he would be still riding in front of me. Now, as I don't wanted to be beaten up Yanagizawa, I accelerated and went quickly around the lake, supported by a nice tailwind. No sign of Jerome. "Jesus", I thought "He must be in really good shape." So I tried harder and exhausted myself completely on the climb. No Jerome came into sight. I had this vision that I was so slow, that David would overtake me with double my speed from behind.

So I run up Yanagizawa at full speed; until 200 elevation meters before the pass when I finally was convinced that Jerome must have been behind me. And I had run out of power. The climbing started to become really, really hard after being in the saddle for almost three hours. All the houses up there are deserted and all the curves looked alike and finally, well, there was the final one and I arrived at the restaurant on the pass which was also luckily opened. Jerome wasn't there.

I had a bowl of Soba, when Jerome arrived about 10 minutes later. We waited for David, who joined us after further 30 minutes, looking pretty wet and exhausted. In the moment he entered the restaurant, Jerome and me got up from our chairs in good, old Positivo Espresso tradition and said "OK then, let's go!".

But the truth was, that I was also pretty much done and I wasn't fully hydrated and recovered after some days of sickness last week.

So I made the following proposal: "We can do now Kamihikawa, Sasago, Susugane and Hinazuru, so about 34.786 meters (BBiT) of climbing plus an estimated 6.732 km (BBiM *) of distance, or we ride down to Ensan (now Koshu, by the way) and jump into an Onsen." Surprisingly enough, all of us opted for the Onsen visit, so we mounted our bikes and made the fast run down to Ensan. There it was pretty hot. The sky was blue, the thermometer showed 17 degrees and after all the cold weather before, we suddenly didn't felt in the mood any longer to linger in hot water.

So we rode the Fruit Line to Route 20, climbed up again and then took a right turn up to the haunted Sasago tunnel. We took it really easy, at least David and me, while Jerome was frolicking around in faster speed-hemispheres.

Shortly before the gate we met a woman who asked us, if there would be an old hotel further up the road. No, only a haunted tunnel with transparent octopuses living in the vaults. Later David said, that we should have taken a photo of the women in order to check if her body and face would show-up on the print, then perhaps she was only an epiphany of a Fox deity.

The old Sasago Tunnel was filled to the ceiling with maximum horror as usual.

Here we can see David and Jerome, still not suspecting anything, while entering the tunnel from the Ensan side. And here we see David and Jerome and me coming out on the other side, after we have experienced pure terror in it's most terrifying form in the darkness inside.On top of that there was also a strong wind and it was extremely cold inside the tunnel. And the weather on the Otsuki side of the tunnel was about 10 degrees colder than on the Ensan side.

So we made a fast run down to route 20 and almost froze to death. Then we made another superfast run down to Otsuki station on route 20 which was even more fun. And then we had a superfast express train from Otsuki home; all in all it took me less than 2 hours from arriving at Otsuki station to the door of my house.

A very nice trip with 167 km distance and more than 2.500 meter climbing (mapmyride checked). Could have been warmer, though. The last two rides (Chibchibu and this one) were some of the coldest rides ever. I enjoyed reading about the other rides on the weekend by Ludwig, Tom and the large PE group as well. It is good to know that so many activities are going on and there are so many groups to join.

Notes: I wrote this post yerstday after the ride, but didn't had the time to edit it and include the photos. So, please take this as an addition to David's post on the same subject.

(*) BBiM : Blind Believers in Me