April 18- day 3

Start: Twin Beach

Detour: Salt Creek Recreation Area

End: High Hopes Farm Port Angeles, Washington

 

Virtual ride: 22 miles. Took 3rd place in my virtual C race. I have to do a sleep study tonight. gross

April 16, 2023- day 2

 Start : Hoko River State Park

 

 

End: Twin Beach

 

Virtual ride notes: did a hilly race. 27 miles. Finished it but was near the back. I'm not good at punchy hills.

April 15, 2023

Day 1 start: Cape Flattery 

Day 1 end: Hoko River State Park

On a side note, my virtual ride was terrible today. I got dropped at the base of the climb and suffered to 90 minutes. Not a great way to start.

Cold and dark

We are quickly approaching the part of the year where it gets harder and harder to bike outside. It's usually cold and dark by the time I get home from work, so I try to hop on the trainer indoors. Frankly, it stinks having to bike inside. There is no change, no excitement, no nothing. 60 minutes of cycling inside feels like an eternity. Every winter I go through a process of trying to figure out how to motivate myself to keep getting on the bike even when it seems like such a chore. I haven't come up with any nifty gimmicks yet, but the wheels are churning. Maybe after Thanksgiving, I'll set up a proper training plan.....or maybe I'll just wait till spring.

King of the Mountain

Today was group ride day. I told everyone at work what I was planning on doing so that I couldn't back out at the last second. That was actually a really good thing to do since it was another cold day with periodic rain. It was just a gloomy looking day. People were also complaining about the wind, but no one knows wind till you live in Indiana or Illinois. Anyway, after work I changed, and got on my way to the meeting point.

At this point I would like to mention that I was a little concerned that this ride didn't really exist. It was a gut feeling, but at the Go Outdoor Festival last weekend the bike shop owner told me that it was an ongoing ride and that he often went on it. I figured that was proof enough.

I pulled up to the bike shop all dressed up in my winter gear and instantly noticed that there were no other cyclist outside milling around. Of the many things cyclist are good at, are milling around and looking silly are at the top the list. I figured people were just inside. It was a nasty day after all. I went in the shop walked up to the counter and asked if this was where the group ride met. The guy looked at me and said, "Oh that ride hasn't been happening for weeks." So there I was all decked out, in a bike shop, looking stupid.

I bee lined it out of there and cut my losses. I drove up to the parkway and went on a ride out of spite more than anything else. I was the King of the Mountain on every hill that I came across. Jokes on everyone who didn't come to my group ride because it was amazing and had good scenery. The leaves were bright red, and I saw 5 or 6 deer. I also saw a groundhog and a police man, and as many people say on the internet, "picture or it didn't happen."

So here is my halfway point.

Suddenly cold

It's amazing how quickly the season can change some years. Just last week I was rolling around in my normal summer kit, and now I'm wearing base layers, gloves, and a hat. I thought Liz and I were moving to the south, but it sure doesn't feel like it. I guess it's time to start winterizing the house.

I am going to attend a fast group ride in town tomorrow after work. I've been going through a training program on my own, but its time to see just how fast I really am (or am not). From what people have said, this is the fastest ride around, so I may get dropped fairly quickly. We'll see what happens. Since it is so cold hopefully it will be a little bit of an easier ride.

Maybe I'll need this bike to help me out. I don't think anyone will notice

These cows have seen it all

I don't usually take pictures of cows. Since there are so many of them, cow pictures seem about as interesting as a picture of grass. However, these guys were at mile 6 just watching the world go by. Even after I stopped and walked up to them, they just stared at me.

They seemed content. My ride got much harder after this point, but it's done now.