Yesterday's humidity remained throughout the night and into the morning. As daybreak came a light fog had settled in over the city. Clouds hung low and shrouded the upper half of the JB Bridge. After crossing the Mississippi, however, the fog seemed to disappear. What didn't change was the thick air. Thankfully, the morning temperatures were comfortable and prevented the day from being oppressive. Regardless, the mere of act of pedaling through the air made you damp.

Many of the farms were freshly planted with little sprigs of crop beginning to burst through the soil. A sure sign of spring was the sod farm nearly stripped bare of the grass that had been cultivated through the winter and early spring.

We had a good ride along the flats to Valmeyer and up the hill to New Valmeyer. A little ribbing about chainring size at the bottom of the hill led to a pushing of the pace by Patrice. Marco likely regretted his comments at that point. I came around Patrice as the pace settled in. Three more times Patrice came charging around me. This was more aggression than I sought but it was fun jumping on his wheel each time.

The remainder of the ride was a variation of a reverse Ronde up on the bluffs. The route has a different feel in that direction and it provided for a nice change of pace.

Total miles: 53ish