Keep those wheels spinning

A new week brings another long ride. On Friday I conquered a 55 miler. The wind was my only enemy and at times she was kicking my a$$. I fell victim to a wind shift that forced me to ride into the wind for the majority of my ride. I had a 10 MPH headwind to contend with for 21 miles, but I figured that same wind will be my friend on the way back east. I was wrong, on my way back the wind shifted to the SSE. So now I was fighting the wind on my second leg already tired from it from my first leg. Needless to say after a few choice cuss words, I continued to push forward. On my way back I ran into Nikki, she had just gotten her hair cut at a place that was on my route and was looking for me. I had talked to her earlier on my break and she figured about where I was and found me. When I stopped to chat for a minute I think she could tell I was struggling, she asked if I had enough water, I said," Of course, but could you redirect the wind for me?" I didn't actually say that though I wanted to very badly. I told her I expected to have the wind at my back on the way home and how it changed directions on me. She gave me a sympathetic look and told me to stay stong and be safe. I was 8 miles from home but it felt like much more. So as I continued onward I dug deep and found a second wind, no pun intended, that brought me home. I ended my ride averaging 16.4 MPH, still within in my goal. I felt tons better after I sat down and looked at what I accomplished. I tackled a long hilly ride with the wind in my face and I still completed it at above 16 MPH. That's a victory in my book.