Feb 27
Moving time 4 hr 59 min 44 sec
I had to work this morning again, so commute on Seven of Five.
When she saw me loading up a thermos of tea in my back pack, and added my camera bag to her bars, she said “You are planning another Great Adventure arent you?”
“yes”
“ok” I was surprised at her almost agreeable response.
Seven of Five’s Great Adventure part 3
On the way home we diverted to The 100 Acre Woods (not really, think Winnie-the-Pooh here). As we entered the playing field via a different entrance point, Seven says “you look stupid you are wearing your roadie glasses.”
“you look stupid you are wearing a rear fender”
We make a right onto what looked like a trail but after just a few more feet realized it was really a wash out ditch...maybe, will explore further another day.
So we crossed the road where there was a properly marked trail. The White trail, which unknown to me at the time is a grid of trails, all with the same color markings. Some people have no clue how to code trails.
At every intersection I would choose the trail that went in the direction away from home. Every trail we came to, every intersection, every cross trail, all had the same markings.
There were a lot of trees down. I had to do quite a bit of picking Seven up. I was glad she was so light. I must have picked her up a dozen times.
A couple of trails brought us to roads, and I would turn around and go back. There was one boggy spot near a lake that in the summer would be pretty gross to ride in, but since it was still pretty frozen this morning, all was well.
One trail dead ended at this cool wildlife blind
View through the one of the openings
We are happily pedaling along when Seven yells out “careful its an octopus tree! Its ok mommy I will distract it so you can run”
She is silly sometimes the old gal. Makes sense though that the cephalopods may torment me a little. After all The Hubby and I gave up tormenting cephalopods for Lent.
So far the trail was wide and easy. Other than 100 logs.
We eventually came to a road and saw the trail continued on the other side.
I asked Seven “shall we”
“we shall”
We eventually ended up at one of the intersections from the first part of our Great Adventure. At that time we chose one direction, so this time we opted for a different one. It brought us to a dead end at a road so had to turn back.
There were multiple options all the along the way, so turning back isn’t always a bad thing, it gives you another opportunity to try a different trail you previously passed. I love exploring like this. Trying to map out the whole system in my head.
One trail we entered I have dubbed The Gauntlet. Looking uphill it was log after log after log.
You cant see all the way up in the photo but some logs were tangles of logs and some were pretty high. Some cut with plenty of room, some cut with a squeeze past feeling, some not cut at all. I didn’t want to ride up as I was getting mildly fatigued by now. So Seven and I walked up. Once at the top it spilled onto a road. I decided this was a good time for a Kind bar and some hot tea. Have I ever mentioned how nice a hot drink is on a cold ride. Ahhhhhhhhh
“Hey! Seven, don’t forget to remind me to restart my Garmin!”
By now I had ridden to work, worked 5 hours (I have a very physical job too, freight team ya know) and ridden another 1 and ½ hours. No wonder I was feeling a little tired. But Kind bar, rest, tea, and we were ready to go.
Of course I rode DOWN The Gauntlet. By now I think Seven had gained some weight though.
Down is good.
I felt mildly refreshed so continued on and took another optional turn.
Off camber frost heaves make for some fun riding too.
We hit a couple sections of trail that were actually quite fun and swoopy and seemed as though they were well enough packed to not be slippery sand in the summer. My brain was already hooking parts of this ride to the better parts of Part 1 to make a good reasonably fun loop.
We eventually ended up back on the road and it seemed that it would be road the rest of the way. There was another trail option, but I have ridden that trail before and always hated it. Thorns and ticks made me dub that trail “The Hell Trail” but figured with the cold weather maybe the ticks would still be sleeping and it wouldn’t be so bad. I was pretty tired at this point so felt road was smarter, but I was determined for a little more dirt. So we took it. I got about a tenth of a mile and felt woozy so stopped. And got very dizzy. I leaned down on the bars for a second and decided I had better turn back and hit the road. At least if I pass out there hopefully someone would find me before the vultures eat my face.
I rode slowly back to the road. Stood a moment to make sure I wasn’t gonna get dizzy again, and headed home. At this point home wasn’t real close, but I kept a casual pace and made it home safely.
I know I pushed myself a little too far, but I have been wanting to increase my endurance. I have always been an hour and a half ride person. With the occasional 2 hour ride, and I want to be able to increase that to 3 eventually 4 hours. So weekends are my time to push it past my comfort zone.
When I pulled into the yard and brought Seven inside, as I entered the door I had to stop a moment to lean in the doorway. The Hubby came running over and all I could say was “help me.”
He smiled and called me something cute and like a good Hubby took the bike and tended to her first. When she was properly parked he came and helped me in and sat me down and got me food and drink and helped me remove my Halters sweater. My Wonderful Son had bought me pizza last night (while I slept) so I had good food, well…is pizza “good” food?
The rest of the day and another ride:
We ran some errands, including a visit to Halters where Seven got a rear rack.
Then it was off to Allaire.
The Hubby couldn’t believe after a short rest I was up for another ride.
I warned my riding buddy (a quality buddy he is too) that it would be a SLOW ride as I was a little tired and sore.
We did some trail maintenance. That’s worth a point isn’t it????
The Hubby trying to talk the tree into moving on its own
Rick getting down to business with his Non-motorized chain saw
Why arent the bikes helping? Lazy sods
After a while I knew I was done. Especially when I fell down. Not crash exactly.
Rick was right behind me.
Mentally and physically I was DONE.
Got in the car and had a yogurt. And a girl scout cookie.
Home.
Is there any pizza left?
