Happy Kid

Hubs took the day off to put up the pool, and we were hoping to take him on his first trail ride at Harris...but it was closed due to wet conditions (as was Crabtree). So we decided to go ride the American Tobacco Trail again. He'd ridden it before, but not on the new bike. Since our older son was home (he's still tracked out from year round school), we took him too. He LOVES to ride.

Hubs and I figured it'd be a fairly short ride since M was coming with us, and we were right. We stopped probably 6 times for one thing or another, but all told, we rode 4 miles. I am SO PROUD of my kid for riding that far! He has never ridden more than a couple miles, so this is his personal best. He even rode almost all the way up the hill back to the parking lot (we parked at the closer trailhead...not usually where I park)! He got frustrated at the end because it was raining and he was tired and couldn't make it all the way up the hill, but I headed that tantrum off by telling him how awesome it was that he had ridden that far and what a proud mommy I was. Then...

...he told us about the frog he put in his pack. He was all excited about the baby frogs that were ALL OVER the place and picked some up during our various stops along the ride. Apparently he found a big frog and slipped it into the outside pocket of his hydration pack...once we found out about it, we made him let the frog go. It was a cool frog, though. :D Boys...

And on a more personal note, I rode up the damn hill...go me!

It was a good ride. Hubs got to wear his new biking shoes and clipped in for the whole ride. He liked it. Kid did a long ride. I got out and rode. All good things.

My Big Fat Fun Ride

I met a girl a couple weeks ago by the name of Katherine. I had stopped at REI to exchange a broken air pump and the people in the back sent me to the bike shop to have them check out the pump. Camye and Hormis were talking to her, I believe, and me and my big mouth joked about something with them. I got my stuff, and as I was walking out the door, Katherine was coming back after a test drive on an awesome pink Marin. She and I started talking, ended up exchanging info and saying that we'd get together sometime soon for a ride, once she got her bike and gear.

Fast forward to earlier this week and an email from Katherine asking me to ride. Hell yes I want to ride! We decided to go to the Tobacco Trail so she could get acquainted with her bike. So we met this morning there...and rode and talked for 1 1/2 hours...a little over 11 miles. This was my longest ride to date and it was wonderful!

And it is such a small world - the place she works was recently merged with a company I used to work for (about 8 years ago) and she knows a couple people that I know! Weird, huh?

Anyway, I'm amazed that I was able to ride that far. I feel great! The last mile was hard, but I refused to stop pedaling.

It was a good ride. Thanks Katherine! :)

Gustav before the ride:

Rode with Maggie today

After taking the little one to school and snoozing on and off for an hour and a half, I got my ass in gear and met Maggie at the American Tobacco Trail for a long (for me) ride. I think we got in about 6 miles - some at a good pace, some fairly slowly. We talked...a lot...and it was good. I needed to spill some of the shit in my head to someone and she has a really good way of listening and explaining things to me, along with great suggestions that I am going to try like hell to put into practice.

I didn't take my camera this time - just wanted to ride without having a reason to stop (though we stopped a few times cuz this big girl ain't used to going 6 miles in one shot) - and regretted not taking it. I haven't been out to ATT in a while and had forgotten that there were things off the trail that I've been wanting to take pics of...oh well. Next time.

It was a good ride. Good friend. Good talk. Good pedaling.

Now I just have to get my head back together enough to not let what's bothering me break my concentration on the trails at Harris...not sure I'll be able to do that, but I'm gonna try. I've actually been enjoying my time on flat surfaces - road and ATT - but it's time to get back to real trails with real dirt.

Best Sign EVAH....

Is this not the funniest thing ever? I stole it from a post on mtbr.com.

I think this in my head a lot...especially as I was riding on the American Tobacco Trail the other day, trying to avoid all the horse shit. Nasty shit. Nasty nasty shit. I mean, how come people MUST pack out their dog's shit but the horse shit is ok to leave in the middle of the fucking trail? It really drives me nuts. I really am interested in hearing why horse shit isn't required to be cleaned up.

Didn't feel like riding today....

but I did anyway. For about 30 minutes...3 miles...ATT. I've decided that I really dislike riding ATT on that bike. Maybe on my Mom's cruiser/comfort bike with the slicker tires...

Of course, the reason I rode Gustav there was to gain strength and endurance. I should probably ride out there at least once a week. Or Umstead. NEVER AGAIN!!! Hahahaa.

Later peoples...I'm feeling a little blue and my wonderful meds are kicking in. Nighty night.