Headwinds OMG Headwinds!

Linda and I met in Green Mountain for our regular Friday ride. The difference from the last few rides was ... it was cooooooold, and the wind was blowing. It wasn't too terrible. We put on an additional layer of clothing and put on gloves. And off we went, as we approached Relief the wind started blowing harder and it begin to spit a little rain at us. We decided to keep going and that we would trust the weather report that said the rain wasn't coming until the evening. The wind kept increasing, but the rain did go away.

As we approached Huntdale the wind almost blew me off the road, but we kept going. We kept saying that the ride back would be easier, because we would have a tailwind. We got a little relief from the wind as we were about a mile from the end of Huntdale Road and I actually warmed up. Then we turned on Hwy 19-W we felt like we hit a wall, the headwind was so strong, we could hardly pedal against it.

We took a break at the Egypt/Ramseytown Fire Station and stretched out a little. The wind did settle down a little bit. We decided that we should head back and wait till a day that was warmer to do a longer ride. So we began the ride back. The tailwind we were expecting didn't really materialize. At least it wasn't a headwind. We turned onto Huntdale Road and it was nice to be out of the wind again.

As we approached Huntdale the wind started back up again ... one problem ... it wasn't a tailwind. The wind had shifted and we were pedaling into a strong headwind, even more than when we had come from the other direction. It seemed that each turn of the pedals brought us more headwind.

We stopped to take a break and stretch a little when we got to Relief. Then started pedaling again, we only had four miles left to get back to our cars, and the climb was over. There was one minor hill and a couple short little rises left. We were beginning to feel fatigued it was getting harder and harder to pedal against the headwind. As we were coming up the last little rise I had to drop down into my granny gear, and I shouted "This isn't a hill!" Linda shouted back "It feels like one!"

We rode up to our cars and decided that we needed to go get a cup of coffee. We did 24 miles, which is a good afternoon ride, but today it felt like we had done about 40.

Another nice day of hiking!

The River Loop Trail and Set Rock Creek Falls ... Awesome!

My friend Calla and I went out hiking today. We did the River Loop Trail again. I will never get tired of this hike and it really is my favorite hike. She had taken her husband there yesterday and had lost the trail. So we went again today and had her lead, so she could figure out where she had gone wrong yesterday.

Calla

Me

It was a beautiful day, a wonderful hike, good company, and even looked at new things. I'm tired, so I'm not going to say a lot. But I will upload photos. I took Gary's camera with me and played with the panoramic shots.

Deer feeding area.

Panoramic shot

Rapid at the headwaters of the South Toe

South Toe

South Toe

Panoramic shot of the South Toe

Old Stump

Panoramic shot of Set Rock Creek Falls

Set Rock Creek Falls

15 went to 20 went to 24 went to 30 went to 28

Well as I started out for my ride I decided to go for 15 miles. That means from Green Mountain I would turn around at Huntdale. So I headed out, I had on my under armor shirt, jersey over, arm warmers, and tights. I thought that was going to be enough, but I did put a wind shirt and some full gloves in my camelbak. I got about a half mile down the road and I was freezing. I stopped and put on the wind shirt an the gloves and that fixed it.

When I arrived in Huntdale, I was comfortable and feeling good. I decided to keep going and do 20 miles. That means I would turn around just beyond Imagene's house. When I got there, I was comfortable and feeling good. I decided to keep going and do 24 miles. When I got to the Egypt/Ramseytown Fire Station, I was comfortable and feeling good. I decided to keep going and do 30 miles. When I got to the turn around point for 28 miles the wind was blowing really hard, and I decided 28 was going to be the right number of miles for today.

It was beautiful out there, and today wildlife began showing up. Almost immediately there were three Ospreys circling around. I saw Canada geese in several locations. There was one Red-tailed hawk flying overhead. A groundhog ran down a hill and then stopped in its tracks when it saw me. And as I came around a bend in the river, there was the most amazing Great Blue Heron in the middle of the river. Wow what a day not to bring my camera.

As always ... I want to ride my bicycle ... and I did!

Waiting for warmth!

Well yesterday I took the day off. The tiredness had continued. I feel better today, but it is cold this morning. Although I am enjoying my time in the sun, I do find the job search a little ... well a lot actually ... discouraging. I have had several interviews. One I went for four interviews. I was told that after the budget meeting, I would start. Then after the budget meeting, they were told they couldn't hire anyone new. So I continue my schedule of riding and working out. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this time of riding and working out. However, I have worked since I was 17 with only a couple of short periods of not working to go to school, or take care of an illness.

I interviewed last week, however, they don't have the funds to hire, they are writing a grant to be able to fund the position. I guess they have to show that they have someone who can do the job. Well it is a director's position, if the grant comes through I'll take it. Most places you don't even get to finish asking the question before they say they are not hiring. Then you interview (and some places multiple times) then they say they are not hiring right now.

I really am enjoying my time in the sun. Trying to let go of feeling down about work. Some days I'm great with it and enjoy the hell out of just going with the flow. Then late at night when I can't sleep I feel guilty about not working. Someone the other day asked me if I was Catholic or Jewish. I told them no, but my Southern Baptist upbringing played the guilt card a lot too. You know anything fun was a sin.

Okay enough of the down and dreary, going to ride when it warms up. Lunch time interview on Friday and will ride afterwards. I'll see you later with a ride update.

As always ... I want to ride my bicycle.

Tired!

Great week ... great weekend ... great bike rides ... great hikes ... great workouts ... I'm beat.

I need to rest I believe. My workout today was difficult at best. While spinning I shoot for a heart rate between 140 - 150 on cardio days and 150 - 165 on interval days. Today was supposed to be a cardio day and I was having difficulty getting my heart rate up to 140. I had to change to my interval workout just to make it to 146 ... man! Today was a leg and ab weight workout. Usually I rest between exercises, but not between sets. Today I had to rest between each set. I accomplished my work out and did the weight intensity that was in the schedule. Just had to rest a lot.

Usually this level of tiredness follows a night of insomnia, but I slept like a log last night. I'll see how I am tomorrow. If I'm still this tired I'll take the day off, if not I'll ride.

On a good note, I lost one and a quarter pounds this week. So in three weeks that brings me to four and a half pounds. So far so good with the group meetings. I'm beginning to feel good about this part of my journey.

As always ... I want to ride my bicycle ... but today I'm too tired.

Can You Say Cross Training?

Went on my favorite hike today with Calla. We decided to start a little earlier than last time. Not much, just 30 minutes earlier. We hiked the River Loop Trail at Black Mountain Campground, and had lunch at Set Rock Creek Falls. No ice or snow this time, it has all melted off. We hiked and talked and it was really nice, not too cool, not too warm. As we forded the creek I just felt like it was beautiful and I asked Calla to take a picture of it.

Creek Crossing River Loop Trail

The clouds came in and started to sprinkle a little, then it got beautiful again. As we hiked up to Set Rock Creek Falls it was really nice, we had our lunch and the clouds came rolling back in. We decided we better get on back to the car. As we approached the car a little sprinkle started up.

As we were driving out we stopped and Calla took photos of a quilt block, the sun came back out and we decided we would hike up to Roaring Fork Falls. Calla had never been there. She was very much impressed by it.

Roaring Fork Falls

As we were hiking back to the car it began to rain. It wasn't a down pour, so we just continued to hike on out. We were pretty wet when we got back to the car, but not absolutely drenched. So we hiked about five miles today, beautiful day.

As always ... I want to ride my bicycle ... but taking a break and hiking is nice too.

30 Miles WooHoo!

Well it was an absolutely gorgeous day today. I met Colleen in Green Mountain for my favorite ride. It was a little brisk when we started out and all though we warmed up neither of us ever took off any of our extra layers.

It was great! We stopped in Relief and I took photos of some of the quilt squares that were out there.

Railroad Quilt

Scrapaholics Delight

Bradford Nine

Then we stopped in Pigeon Roost and I took a picture of a quilt square there.

Carolina Flower Garden

We stopped after Pigeon Roost so that Colleen could get rid of a little coffee ... haha ... then on through Huntdale and stopped at the Egypt/Ramseytown Fire Station so that I could get rid of a little coffee. At that point we had gone almost 12 miles. We decided we could go a little further. So we went on. We turned around when we arrived at the 15 mile mark. Pretty cool. I decided to film on the way back. I haven't finished editing it yet, but when I do I'll add a little clip into this post.

Tomorrow should be another fun day. I will be hiking the River Loop Trail with Calla again.