OMG, my butt hurts, lol.
I'm gonna need a vacation after this weekend is over. What an AMAZING beginning! Yesterday, my friends and I rode the first stretch of the Mickelson Trail. And I was TOTALLY unprepared, LOL!
Got up at 4 am, had breakfast, took the dogs for a walk, and by 6 (still in the dark), headed down (or is it up?) to Hill City. It was 45 degrees when I left, 31 when I dropped off my bike in Deadwood, 31 in Hill City when I met up with my friends at 7:30 (I saw 3 deer, 3 turkeys, and 6 big horned sheep on the way). I was ready for the temps... pulled out my fleece lined ski pants, wools socks, gloves and winter headband...
We drove back up to Deadwood to begin around 8:30. About 50 other people decided to go riding as well, so there was a line at the sign, line for the outhouse, lol, and after an hour of dinking around, we finally got underway by 9:30. And in that hour, the temp rose with the sun from that 31 degrees to 77.... and so we immediately began peeling off layers. And all those layers had to be shoved into my backpack. UGH.
My friends are extremely fit... their friends are not, lol. The 4 hour ride took "a bit" longer.... ok, that "bit" was 8 1/2 hours. On a bicycle. We stopped for eating at EVERY trailhead. Which, with the Fall Colors being SPECTACULAR was AWESOME, but also meant REALLY sore legs, and then my seat was giving me trouble. When we reached Rochford's Moonshine Gulch Saloon for lunch around 2 pm, I knew I wouldn't make it home in time to let the dogs out, so tried texting my son.... and tried... and tried... and tried... and tried... did I say I tried? LMAO. Btw, there's no cell phone reception in Rochford... for 20 miles.... so we rode a mile, and I'd check... rode a mile, and I'd check.... for all those 20 miles... finally it beeped and I sent a text.... to the wrong # (sent it to their landline... and immediately lost reception again GAA!), went another mile - checked, another mile - checked and FINALLY, at 5pm, got through.
Of course, the dogs already had an accident by that time... shit happens - literally, lol. I'm lucky I could still bend over to clean up once I got home, lol. But, it was an AWESOME day! And after an excellent night's sleep, all my aches (except the butt) are gone and I'm ready for the remaining 63 miles today! Well, AFTER I pick up a new seat cushion at Walmart, lol..... AND, I already made dog arrangements because I KNOW there's no cell reception down there after the first 9 miles. I'll post photos when I get back... LATER!
Got up at 4 am, had breakfast, took the dogs for a walk, and by 6 (still in the dark), headed down (or is it up?) to Hill City. It was 45 degrees when I left, 31 when I dropped off my bike in Deadwood, 31 in Hill City when I met up with my friends at 7:30 (I saw 3 deer, 3 turkeys, and 6 big horned sheep on the way). I was ready for the temps... pulled out my fleece lined ski pants, wools socks, gloves and winter headband...
We drove back up to Deadwood to begin around 8:30. About 50 other people decided to go riding as well, so there was a line at the sign, line for the outhouse, lol, and after an hour of dinking around, we finally got underway by 9:30. And in that hour, the temp rose with the sun from that 31 degrees to 77.... and so we immediately began peeling off layers. And all those layers had to be shoved into my backpack. UGH.
My friends are extremely fit... their friends are not, lol. The 4 hour ride took "a bit" longer.... ok, that "bit" was 8 1/2 hours. On a bicycle. We stopped for eating at EVERY trailhead. Which, with the Fall Colors being SPECTACULAR was AWESOME, but also meant REALLY sore legs, and then my seat was giving me trouble. When we reached Rochford's Moonshine Gulch Saloon for lunch around 2 pm, I knew I wouldn't make it home in time to let the dogs out, so tried texting my son.... and tried... and tried... and tried... and tried... did I say I tried? LMAO. Btw, there's no cell phone reception in Rochford... for 20 miles.... so we rode a mile, and I'd check... rode a mile, and I'd check.... for all those 20 miles... finally it beeped and I sent a text.... to the wrong # (sent it to their landline... and immediately lost reception again GAA!), went another mile - checked, another mile - checked and FINALLY, at 5pm, got through.
Of course, the dogs already had an accident by that time... shit happens - literally, lol. I'm lucky I could still bend over to clean up once I got home, lol. But, it was an AWESOME day! And after an excellent night's sleep, all my aches (except the butt) are gone and I'm ready for the remaining 63 miles today! Well, AFTER I pick up a new seat cushion at Walmart, lol..... AND, I already made dog arrangements because I KNOW there's no cell reception down there after the first 9 miles. I'll post photos when I get back... LATER!
Replies
You certainly had a long, tiring day but I can also hear how much fun you had. Yes, you better make arrangements for the dogs next time.
I know what you mean about a sore butt. I rode two horses on Friday (I haven\'t done that in a long time) my butt\'s a bit sore too.
I\'m looking forward to seeing your photos.
You certainly had a long, tiring day but I can also hear how much fun you had. Yes, you better make arrangements for the dogs next time.
I know what you mean about a sore butt. I rode two horses on Friday (I haven\'t done that in a long time) my butt\'s a bit sore too.
I\'m looking forward to seeing your photos.
:)
Sounds awesome!! What a great weekend for you.
Hope your butt recovers quickly. Puts a new meaning on saddle weary.
Nice! I love that feeling of sheer exhaustion. You are going to sleep like a ROCK.