Seek beginnings.
It is selfish, but that’s who I am: for me birthdays are the best of all holidays. What better thing to celebrate than one’s own existence, without which all else would be for naught?
But how?
R.A.T.S.
The only thing better than a good, all-day ride is like-minded and able people to go with. Saturday was it; Scott, Max, Chad and myself.
The numbers only begin to tell the story. 10:40 moving, 2:20(ish) stopped. 6:17 uphill time, 1:05 flat time. 34 mph max, 6.5 average. A hair less than 13k of climbing on the day.
What you don’t see here and in the profile is the burly, burly, endlessly burly terrain. The day had everything, butt-smooth pavement and buff singletrack. It also had mile plus goat trail hike a bikes, barely there singletrack descents, and more rocky-as-shit steep-as-hell jeep roads than you’ll find just about anywhere. Mile for mile easily the hardest ride I’ve done. And one of the best.
Thanks, Scott.
There are very few people who wouldn’t have died out there around mile 35. I wasn’t one of them a year ago. It’s a privilege to know others. You guys are The Man.
What’s the best thing about being dehydrated, shelled, with trashed legs? Being able to chill out and enjoy the little things in life. After waking up and breakfasting with Chad, the fabulous host, friend, and comedian, M and I took of to Saguaro National Park and the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. We spent three hours there. I’ll let M do picture duty on that, but the time speaks for itself.
It was a gorgeous, almost hot day in winter.
Later we drove north, and stopped by downtown Scottsdale. Fantastic Thai was the object of our search, and in 20 minutes or searching we found our place. Anchor Porter, delicate veggie tempura, and Drunken Dragon chicken cabbage rolls. Just spicy enough to tolerate, enhancing but not overwhelming the flavors.
Then home, here, and to sleep. Today I’m very happy being older.
PS My new wall decoration, my present from M!!!
Bedrock & Paradox 
Leave a reply to Ed Cancel reply