It can be an elusive thing.  1/2 mile into the climb up Blue Mountain with Jill this evening I felt like garbage, barely able to turn a reasonable cadence on the flat parts.  Ugg.  I thought that last week’s three week binge, separated with only one rest day from Sheep, had been too much.  Fortunately things turned around , and once we popped out on the road and started heading up to the lookout things started clicking, and soon the (granted, fairly gentle) climbs felt all but effortless.  It was cool up high and in the shade, the sky blue all the way down to the horizon. 

We enjoyed beers (Summer Honey comes in a can now!), a chat with the lookout (35 years on the job!), and 360 degree views before suiting back up to descend the moto trail.  I’d never been down it, and while some sections lived up to my fears of fall line chunk and moon dust, overall the trail exceeded expectations.  Some sections were even a legit bike trail.  Getting over to Blue Mountain is a bit of a nuisance, but it seems bad form that I’d never done that ride before tonight.

Finish off the evening with beer, pizza, and ice cream. Ahhhh….