I hope everyone saw the email from Kevin stating that registration is open
for the Augusta series. It is time to start riding again if you have been
off the bike this winter.

For 2009, Scott and Melinda Dura have offered to host the start and finish
of the Atlanta 600 km brevet at their home in Cumming, GA. They have a
great house in the woods with a pool on a lake. It will really be a treat to
finish a long hard ride with some warm food, a shower and a swim. (Maybe
even with a beer and a nap!)

Melinda and Scott were involved in the early days of Audax Atlanta. They
also are Anciennes and Anciens of the sport with Melinda completing BMB in
2002, 2004 and 2005. And Scott completing BMB in 2002 and 2005. They have
provided SAG support on many a ride through the years for Mike and David.
Hats off to the Dura's!

Scott and I reviewed the route for the first/last 100 miles of the route
yesterday. Scott prefers his bike riding to be on roads with a 25 mph or
less speed limit and he has strung together a series of his favorite roads
through hill and dale that make their way over Burnt Mountain to Fort
Mountain. These are some fantastic roads that will be new to most cyclists.

Were you aware that there is a third road that accesses the top of Burnt
Mountain and provides for an alternate route into Ellijay? I can safely say
that it is the shortest of the three routes. After Fort Mountain the route
will generally take the previous path north towards the Tennessee border and
then south through The Pocket to the turnaround in Rome.

We are also considering running a parallel 300k with the 600. It would have
to be a bit longer than usual and would feature a turnaround at the
Chatsworth control and a return over both mountains. This would be a
climbfest for sure.

More later. RBA Andy