Turkey Day Solo

This morning, I woke up determined to catch up on housework, homework, laundry, mail, and basically everything I’ve been ignoring for days, maybe weeks.  By the way, if you haven’t received a reply regarding your Facebook message, email, text, or phone call, be assured that I have a sticky note on my desk with your name on it.

My good intentions took a nosedive as soon as I opened the front door to take out the trash.  What a beautiful day.  No, make that Capital Letter, Underlined, Beautiful Day!  The temperature was perfect, the sun shining, and a steady breeze carrying the faintest scent of autumn.  This was just too good to pass up.  I can do housework on rainy days, I argued with myself.  I didn’t have to argue long….myself didn’t put up much of a fight.

I grabbed my mountain bike, all my gear, tossed the trash in the dumpster as I passed by, and pedaled happily toward Turkey Mountain.

Riding alone at Turkey Mountain is not something I do very often anymore.  And I usually let everyone else map out the route.  To me, there are just too many choices.  I’m like a kid in a candy store.  I want to go here…no there…and I want that too, I can’t decide!  So on the way over today, I tried to mentally work out where I would ride.  By the time I reached TM, I still hadn’t come up with a plan.  So I decided to just see where I landed.

The first place I tackled was the newest trail with the tabletop jumps.  I had ridden this once with Sharon, and it was time to try again.  I locked out my rear suspension and dropped in.  The first couple of jumps are usually pretty sketchy, but as I get warmed up they get better.  I like the table tops because you have a sort of safety net.  And I need that safety net.  But on a 29’er, I feel like a Clydesdale in a steeplechase in that section.

I came out on the bike path, crossed over to ride Lo Chi, and then climbed to the top of Turkey.  I decided to ride Tree Hugger, since I needed to work on my cornering.  Tree Hugger is just the place to do it.  It’s a slightly downhill single-track, curving its way through turn after turn with trees hugging the trail all the way down.  The ride back up is an easy, gradual climb, making this the perfect place to practice my turns.  I am determined to put the Squid nickname behind me.  I want a nickname that signifies determination…perseverance…speed….recklessness.  Anything but Squid!

I rode Tree Hugger five or six times, getting braver and faster each time.  Deciding to stop while I was ahead, I moved on to Millennium, the North end of Hi Chi, then on to Jelly Legs.  I popped out on the Snake and made my way back toward the parking lot, looking for the trail that Sharon had told me about, a trail that bisects the Snake.  Sure enough, I found it and rode through.  I couldn’t believe I had never noticed this trail before.  Very sweet and fast.  This would be a great one for the Slademan to ride when he comes to visit, if I can pull him away from a book. 

Soon it was back to the parking lot and onto the paved path home.  Man, I felt so much better after getting out for the day!  Time for a shower!  While pedaling along on the ride back, I concluded that mountain biking is like taking a mental shower.  Forget the water, soap, and shampoo.  Rinse your mind in adrenaline, and scrub your worries away with a little fear and exhilaration!

Now to catch up on at least one or two things, and then get ready for my Swing Dance lesson tonight! Fun, Fun!