International Harper Day Ride, 2012

[harper]

The International Harper Day Ride for 2012 will commemorate my 60th birthday this year. It will be a couple of days beforehand, on Sunday 26 August, but that's close enough.

We will ride the Iron Horse Trail from Hyak to Rattlesnake Lake which is about a 22 mile ride down a 2% railroad grade. You only have to pedal to maintain balance it's so easy. There is a 2.3 mile long, pitch black dark tunnel right at the beginning of the ride. If you haven't gone on this ride before you will need a unicycle and a very bright light. My hair is getting so white that I may be able to illuminate most of the tunnel, but not all of it. Last year we had only unicycles on this ride and it was unbelievably easy to transport them. Carrying bikes up there was always a huge hassle. Unicycles rule when it comes to transport.

We'll decide on a meeting point later. In past years the primping involved has delayed the ride substantially. It takes several hours for Blackwood to put on his faceguard, kneepads, armpads, armpitpads, NFL shoulderpads, anklepads, padded gloves, padded hydration pack, and special padded helmet. By the time he's done you'll be ready for a padded cell. One year, JC and I did the entire ride and then rode it backwards and got back to the parking lot just as Tom was tightening the last strap.

It's always a fun ride. I hope you can attend.