Today was the beginning of RFA 2014 and it was a rather bad start! My bike computer didn’t work.

I had prepared ride cue sheets for all 6 rides included in this year’s tour, and Donna has spent many hours creating them for cyclists. I’ve included the cue sheet for today so those who may read this blog can see what it looks like. I didn’t really need it, because I knew the route very well because I have ridden it so many times.

At 9AM I started the ride at my home and three other riders met me at the Gym on RT 2A in Preston -- Danielle Curcuro, Lou Ciardullo and Jay Pelchat.

It was a beautiful sunny, mostly clear and coolish day. The ride started with a mostly level ride on Rt 2, past the Foxwoods Resort Casino, down Lantern Hill Rd., past the Mystic Seaport, through downtown Mystic, up River Rd, Rt 184, RT 201, Wolf Neck Rd, Shewville Rd and then --- the hills of Gallup Hill Rd and Wendell Comrie Rd. - - - quite the challenge!

When we got to the intersection of Lambtown and Colonel Ledyard Highway a very large group of motorcycles, well over a hundred, was going north on Colonel Ledyard Highway. Obviously, it was a major event, but we had no idea what. We continued on Lamtown Rd and when we got to the intersection of Sandy Hollow Rd and RT 117, the police had blocked off all traffic on 117. The motorcycle group was coming across the Ledyard Reservoir on Sandy Hollow Rd would be turning south on RT 117.

It took about 10 minutes for them to pass. One of the police officers told me there were over 400 bikes in the group. A friend, Jody Katz, told me later that the group was the Annual Babies Heart Run and they were participating in their 19 mile escorted ride through Mystic, Ledyard and Groton. It raises money to assist people with babies in the NICU who do not otherwise qualify for assistance. Thanks, Jody.

All in all, the kickoff ride today was successful, and it was nice that Danielle, Lou and Jay joined me. I hope they will return for another ride this week.

(Click on the images below for a larger view of each photo.)

Day 1, ready to go!	Me, Jay, Danielle, Lou
Pre-Historic BIRDS?	Mystic Harbor/Seaport
Scenic Mystic Seaport	Scenic Mystic Seaport
Annual Babies Heart Run	Annual Babies Heart Run
Motorcycle front/back mustang car	police intersection control
Danielle, Lou, Jay