Monumentally Afflicted

Had a nice big misadventure today! Planned to do Log Machine to Schubarth, and then come out via Deadman's Gulch. Followed 307 to 313, which looked right on the Pikes Peak Atlas. Somehow I ended up at the end of 311, where I followed a faint trail east into the woods. Ended up in the Hell Creek basin, then did an unbelievable bushwack down the mountain. A seriously character-building ride. My planned 3 hour ride turned into a 5.5 massive sufferfest! I have never gone through so much dense scrub oak. It was so bad, that I employed a cycling technique I've never used before: Bike Tossing! When the scrub oak gets too thick to get both you and the bike through, raise the bike overhead with both hands, proceed to launch downhill as far as possible, then use both hands to bushwack through the bush to your bike. Repeat ad nauseum. I managed to finally make it down the mountain. I think it took 80 minutes to go just over one half mile. Ever heard of a Spot II Satellite GPS ...

Decided to put in a real effort today, going up Blodgett, Across to USAFA, and back to work via the Sante Fe Trail and Woodmen. 14 miles and 1885ft of elevation gain. About 3/4 mile of hike-a-bike to increase the suffering factor. Good times! Actually, really good times, considering I did the whole loop in 1:20. I got passed and dropped like a rock by 2 roadies on Centennial. Surprising, but motivational.

Planned to do a quick ride through Limbaugh at lunch today. Started out well, cleaning the trail all the way up to the road (first time ever, I think). Cruised up the road and to the drop into Limbaugh. LOTS of gun fire. Got my attention and I augered in on one easy right hander. Oops! Picked myself and back up and continued into the meadow which was full of flowers (not quite peaking yet). After passing a pile of nice flowers, I thought I should stop and take some pics. Aacck! Where's my camera? I remembered throwing it in the outside pocket of my hydration pack. The pocket with no zipper. Oh man, and I have a meeting I have to get back to. I decide to just forget the old camera and continue downhill, then realize the camera has family photos from vacation. Ugh, better turn around and do some fast climbing. I figure I probably lost the camera when I crashed earlier. So, after 400 ft of elevation gain, I find the camera, right where I crashed! I couldn't believe...

8 weeks 'til 24 Hours of Colorado Springs at the United States Air Force Academy. I 'spose I should get my arse off of the couch. Got out today for a very nice 2 hour ride. Up Mt Herman, down Mule Trail, across Colonel's Revenge, through Black Pearl, down Flow Dog and 715 back to the house. Good stuff. Seemed to be working a bit harder than I should have, but that is probably due to being below 1000ft for the past 8 days.

Got out for a nice gravel road ride today. I'm up in Northern Ontario, a few kilometers from Quebec. I didn't quite have time to get across the border today, but I did manage to get to the nice French community of Belle Vallee. The local church. Church again, from a different angle. Got in about 32 miles in 2:17. A good workout and perfect weather (well, a tiny bit of wind, but nothing significant). I was riding my old Raleigh John Tomac Signature Series bike from ~1994. Still a sweet bike! Well, the geometry sucks for my old body and most parts have been replace over the years, but I still like it...