Biker & Horses & Cows, Oh My!
Photos are up! AND... I got lost AGAIN! No, not on the same stretch - that one actually turned out AWESOME! I was able to ride 2/3 of it and didn't have to worry about mountain lions (good thing, because I couldn't look up and stay alive too) - I didn't have to worry because another mountain biker hit the trail at the toughest stretch where I was taking a break and I let him go before me.
It was SO AWESOME... I was feeling FRESH... climbed stuff I never thought I'd be able to... and it only took me 45 minutes instead of the 3 hours this time!!!
And so I stopped for lunch at the ballpark where I quit last week, fought bees for my peanut butter, and started out on the snowmobile trail section called Sheep Flats. AND encountered lost hikers. They thought they were hiking another mountain, lol... and so I directed them to the RIGHT one - deja vu?...
Sheep Flats... So how DOES one get lost on the easiest and flattest part of the course? Well, THIS one misses a turn and keeps following another lost soul's tracks and winds up on the road about 7 miles southwest of where she originally planned. (good thing I know the roads!) Ok, and I have another reason for missing the turn, lol... it's been 2 years since I've been out there, everything is more overgrown this year due to LOTS of rain AND they've been logging. Nothing's been recognizable out there. And I didn't even realize I was "lost" until I passed an FS trail on my left that wasn't supposed to be there... and another.... and another.... and did I mention that the return ride was all uphill?! AND THEN... I found the BULL! Luckily, my bright pink shirt and bright pink camera that made noise freaked him out, lol and he moved away into the trees... and so I knew that if I kept heading east I'd wind up near where I started when suddenly I saw MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACKS and got back on course....
I got tired just before Old Baldy.... so tired and my lungs were hurting that I had to push my bike up the hill. So today, I rode about 20 miles in 6 hours, 20 minutes and burned 7,221 calories.... and yep I made myself pizza and a shake when I got home, lol.
And so, what this means is that my estimated time to the half way point next week (including my oops) = 7 1/2 hours.... which means I'll be finishing the race in about 10 1/2. TWO HOURS FASTER than last time I did it!!!! But that's only IF they let me keep riding as I got an email that said they'll pull me off halfway at 6 hours. So Tomorrow - redo Sheep Flats and I'll be done training!
MAN, I need a shower, lol.... AND there's a wild game feed with the singles group that started about 15 minutes ago. I'm not a fan of wild game - but I am a fan of making new friends so LATER!
It was SO AWESOME... I was feeling FRESH... climbed stuff I never thought I'd be able to... and it only took me 45 minutes instead of the 3 hours this time!!!
And so I stopped for lunch at the ballpark where I quit last week, fought bees for my peanut butter, and started out on the snowmobile trail section called Sheep Flats. AND encountered lost hikers. They thought they were hiking another mountain, lol... and so I directed them to the RIGHT one - deja vu?...
Sheep Flats... So how DOES one get lost on the easiest and flattest part of the course? Well, THIS one misses a turn and keeps following another lost soul's tracks and winds up on the road about 7 miles southwest of where she originally planned. (good thing I know the roads!) Ok, and I have another reason for missing the turn, lol... it's been 2 years since I've been out there, everything is more overgrown this year due to LOTS of rain AND they've been logging. Nothing's been recognizable out there. And I didn't even realize I was "lost" until I passed an FS trail on my left that wasn't supposed to be there... and another.... and another.... and did I mention that the return ride was all uphill?! AND THEN... I found the BULL! Luckily, my bright pink shirt and bright pink camera that made noise freaked him out, lol and he moved away into the trees... and so I knew that if I kept heading east I'd wind up near where I started when suddenly I saw MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACKS and got back on course....
I got tired just before Old Baldy.... so tired and my lungs were hurting that I had to push my bike up the hill. So today, I rode about 20 miles in 6 hours, 20 minutes and burned 7,221 calories.... and yep I made myself pizza and a shake when I got home, lol.
And so, what this means is that my estimated time to the half way point next week (including my oops) = 7 1/2 hours.... which means I'll be finishing the race in about 10 1/2. TWO HOURS FASTER than last time I did it!!!! But that's only IF they let me keep riding as I got an email that said they'll pull me off halfway at 6 hours. So Tomorrow - redo Sheep Flats and I'll be done training!
MAN, I need a shower, lol.... AND there's a wild game feed with the singles group that started about 15 minutes ago. I'm not a fan of wild game - but I am a fan of making new friends so LATER!
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Wow!!! I loved your pictures. They really make me want to move up to your neck of the woods and try mountain biking!!! If we had views and trees like you do I would be riding right along behind you!! ( only maybe 2 or 3 hours behind you! ha, ha!)( probably wouldn\'t even get started and you would be done!) Keep up all that exercise it is really good for you! Can\'t wait to hear how well you do on race day! (((HUGS)))
LOL! No worries... I\'m slow and always last AND there are easier and just as beautiful trails. In fact, my favorite fall one - Mickelson Trail - is railroad grade - half of which goes downhill, lol.
Your stamina is really admirable!