Tar Heel 200 Permanent Inaugural Ride, April 4, 2009

Welcome a couple of new North Carolina randonneurs who inaugurated North Carolina’s newest Permanent this past weekend. I and everyone who follows are grateful for their pioneering spirit: their willingness to follow a mythical cue sheet, one that works perfectly in my head as the route designer but less perfectly on paper.


But then, again, sometimes it's not altogether the cue sheet's fault.
According to their ride report, the ride represented a number of “firsts.”

The route is a brand new RUSA permanent. It is the first permanent designed by the owner, and if our documentation is accepted, it will be the first official ride on the permanent, my cycling companion's first RUSA ride, my first RUSA ride, and my first Lanterne Rouge. Lots of 'firsts'.

What was their verdict of the route?

It is a perfect ride for newbie Randonneurs doing their first RUSA events, and I am sure it will become a favorite sprint for experienced Randonneurs.

Here's the ride report, complete with captioned pictures (diced with humor). I love the one at the first/last controle with the sign in the window . . . It's sure to become a classic.

Much thanks to Edward Robinson, RUSA’s Permanent Coordinator, and to both Susan Plonsky and Alan Johnson, RBAs, for their gracious help in making the Tar Heel 200 a reality. We riders thank you!

And congratulations to the riders on their string of firsts!