Rain. The forecast for Friday was 60% chance of rain and more on Saturday under cloudy skies.

I love it when mother nature decides to cooperate. Two Saturday's in a row in February dawned to blue skies.

Okay, it was 33 degrees at my house but the day would warm to 55 degrees and I'd be riding without my arm warmers. You couldn't have planned it better than that.

Jim McCracken took on a big jump from 50 to 100 miles. Both Doug and I had far more miles than Jim and had planned this first century for a week. I usually get my first century in late February. Steve already has 3, probably four if the weather was as nice in Boise as in Lewiston.

These early rides are problematic? Will the weather cooperate? Who has the miles to do this. Doug and I knew we'd be adding miles back in town unless we left the valley and neither of us wanted to climb out nor ride in the more inclement weather of the Palouse. We added Clarkston Loop at 8 before heading up Tammany to Lapwai, Arrow Bridge, and Kendirck--a repeat of our ride last week.

Sean met us just after 9 under Southway Bridge. Carol's been in Cambodia and he needed to be able to pick her up at 3:45 at the airport. He wouldn't be going for a century but would he go to Kendrick?

Jim stayed with Doug forcing me to keep up for the first loop. I took a little break to fix a flat in the port. This made us late for the second start but no one waited for us under the bridge.

With Sean, we pushed pretty hard up Tammany. The pace began to slow Jim but we stayed mostly together until Lapwai.

Jim pointed out a bald eagle sitting in his tree on the old road from Spalding to Arrow. I had my camera but was unwilling to stop to try for a shot, so you'll just have to visualize that regal bird 30 feet in the air, white head glistening in the bright winter sun.

Jim and I dropped off the pace to Kendrick where we both felt like enjoying a Largent Lunch. We settled for cheese burgers and fries. Sean had pie. Doug was unable to resist and had his p3e while Jim and I ate our burgers.

Sean was getting nervous about his time and pulled off for Lindsay Creek and home just after 1. Doug wanted his few extra miles here rather than in town so we headed up the trail toward Deary turning off past the Sothwick road. We would still be a bit short, so Doug said he'd go around Red Wolf. That wouldn't add much to my mileage so I joined him.

Jim wanted his extra miles closer to home and headed off gaining a five mile advantage on us. We figured to catch him at Arrow, then the Casino, but he was no where in site. Of course the flat Doug had near the Casino and our brief stop at the Casino didn't help us make time on Jim. Still we were running 19-21 mph nearly all the way back to town.

And there was Jim just ahead climbing the Lewiston side of separator grade. He was at 86 miles when we caught him and planned to add miles toward Steptoe. If he'd wanted to do Evans road, I might have gone with him.

I felt that good. Yes, my knees hurt some and my butt, but my energy was good. Doug claimed to less energetic than last week but it didn't seem to slow him down.

So, three centuries logged by TRC--Lewiston. How many were logged today by TRC-Boise? Gotcha there, huh, Steve.

Really, riding a century is a small thing compared to say participating in the winter Olympics, but it is, nevertheless, strangely satisfying in a way that even 95 miles would not be.

So, here's to small things. May there be many more of them.

For the Ride of It. Corrie