Schools back in session, time to get the Thursday rides at Beacon back on track. I"ve made a few
phone calls, no mails ( email and stuff has been down for a few days) make a few more calls, shift
the time, and lose some folks, gain some folks...No problem moving the time, as we move into fall
I"d much rather take advantage of the warm midday rays than try to get the ride over with in 45
degree early hours.
So it ends up being myself, Kamikaze #1, and her buddy, Carol.... Carol has a 6 month old, and women
who look as good as she within a year of giving birth ought to be shot. She's also a natural
athlete, who's only mountain biked a few times. She's one of those who if she gets even just two
months of riding under her belt... look out!! Shelly brings a bike for Carol, and away we go.
This is my first ride up the Esmerelda trail since the day after it burned. Thankfully, we've had
rain so its not longer deep in dust and ash. In places it feels like a moon scape, and there
weirdest thing is to see the other riders as you snake along back and forth. The underbrush is gone.
I"m thinking it will be lovely in the spring' even now after the rain there is green sprouting here
and there.
Well, Carol is awesome, like I said natural athlete. She just follows right up the hill, complaining
just I bit, but I never saw any sweat or hard breathing ( 2 mile climb) The gals have kids at the
same school, so I have to endure (tune out) the conversation about who has what teacher, who's got
cancer, the baby at the baby sitter... the amazing thing is a) esmerelda hill in second chain ring,
and b) I beat K2 up the hill. whoa!!
We opt for the easier way down the hill to the next section of trails for both our newbie, and K2
still has a lot of trail angst (!!) from a wreck on the trail we are NOT going down. This is amazing
to me, this is the expert rider who brought me along from raw newbie who I never ever ever have seen
hesitate or fall. But it's all about fun so no matter.
I show them the new upper section, and K2 tells me the only reason that she rode over this one rock
that's built into the trail ( route goes right over and down a medium sized slick rock boulder) is
because I did it. Carol our newbie pulls up short at the top of it, but I'd love to teach her how to
ride it as she's a natural.
I feel funny/good/different being the gal out front for the whole ride. It feels pretty good!! But
surprising.
I tell K2 she can borrow my pads any time she want's to tackle that section again.
We have to cut the loop short ... can't leave the baby at the sitter too long. But it was a great
fall day to get out and get the routine going again.
Thursdays at Beacon....
Penny