Ham and Eggs

Monday, on Valentine's Day, the library is conducting a fire drill. Oh goody, that means hot firefighters will be in the vicinity. Oh oh, I already hear The Boyfriend telling me to focus.

Today, after I ate my egg, the two of us did Mt. Ham again, having done it last weekend. Once the morning fog burned off, the climb was quite pleasant and warm with deer sprinting about, cows in the meadow, and blossoms opening. Which reminds me, ham, ham, ham, oh yes, that actor John Hamm, yummy. Focus, The BF says.

Only a few cyclists took on the challenge of Mt. Hamilton today. I felt calm and strong as I climbed with the hope of shattering my LKHC time of 2 hr 44 min in 2009. Once again, I lost significant time the last few miles and finished at the top with a time of 2 hr 52 minutes; yet, I felt stronger than previous rides. I'm shooting for 2 hr 30 min. Hey, I can dream.

As for The Boyfriend, he did the backside of Hamilton (Mines) and met me at the top only 5 minutes after I arrived. Perhaps I should refer to him in future blog entries as The Stud. Both of us were unable to do Mega Monster Enduro this year but today's outing made up for that.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Tucked unassumingly in a canyon filled with pine and oak, and ranches with horses, wild turkeys and cattle, lies Kincaid, a less traveled road of rolling hills with steep pitches, and seemingly forgotten by time.

After 2 hours of climbing Mt. Hamilton, on a day of an unseasonable warm spell, I turned onto Kincaid, and was soon joined by my friends S&P. Lookey below, it's The Boyfriend, leaving us. Doing this treasure of a climb fired up his juices.

With Kincaid done, P and I still had another 5 or so miles of climbing before reaching the summit. P shot ahead of me. I slowed considerably and the gusty winds didn't help either -- scary enough that I got off the bike and walked a bit. I made it to the top only because I was inspired by P ahead of me.

The changing light and position of the sun confirmed just how slow I was going down the mountain. As in 6 hrs later (my finishing time). I was not a damsel in distress just a slow rider aware that I was no match for the windy conditions. Alas, with 8 miles left to go to reach the bottom, who should appear before me -- a knight in shining armor, oh alrighty, a gallant cyclist, in sweaty shiny spandex (otherwise known as The Boyfriend) coming to fetch his fair maiden.

Me: Have you come to rescue me?

He: No, I've come to claim my booty.

Me: [ignoring him] Were you worried that I might be stranded atop the mountain?

He: No, I assumed you were delayed by your usual shameless flirtatious behavior.

Me: Well, there were these two gray haired good looking motorcyclists ...

He: Get in the car.

Me: Aren't you going to hoist me over your shoulder first and drag me kicking & screaming?

He: That and more.

Me: You cut a gallant figure on your white horse taking me off the treacherous mountain.

He: Next you'll be wanting me to slay a dragon.

Me: The thought crossed my mind. You're my dashing valiant hero.

He: You got that right, Missy.

Just the Stats:

44 miles

7 mph avg

27 mph descent

6 hrs

20-40 mph gusty winds

6965 ft of climbing