Come Up and Ride

I tried nine ways to Thursday to get out of riding this morning. I have yet to fully recover from Saturday’s race, and three spin classes early in the week set that process back who knows how long. 

Then something rather strange took place yesterday as I contemplated yet another inventive and creative excuse. I said fuck that. Get up at 0400 and go ride. And so I did. We did. 

We left at the agreed to time, 0530, from the club parking lot and pointed it North. An hour later we were sipping coffee and tossing back some very decent blueberry pancakes, with still another drive to the parking area at the base of the big hill. I was hoping that riding up my favorite mountain would somehow provide additional endorphin flow - enough to power me up the seventeen miles and five thousand feet with relatively little pain. I was wrong.

It hurt like always. I was insufficiently recovered and at one point even lost balance and had to ‘talk’ myself out of a downward spiral that might have ended in disaster. 

The reality check was successful and we slugged it out to the top, refilled water bottles and screamed back down in a third of the time it took to summit. Such is the majesty and allure of Hurricane Ridge in the Washington State's Olympic Mountains. 

We discussed the local population’s mistake of taking this ride for granted, recalling the numerous times we have heard European visitors proclaim it to the the Switzerland of the US. We exchanged stories from the many years and many round-trip rides we have each taken and the respect we both hold for its distance, challenge and beauty. 'Every time is a unique adventure', we agreed was an appropriate marketing tag line. 

Ninety minutes on the road, two point five hours up, thirty-five minutes back down and another ninety minutes back home on the return leg. Done and dusted. 

This is our backyard. Our home course. It never gets old and it never gets easier. 

The cat is out of the bag in regard to Seattle and its hidden treasures. So we might as well celebrate our remaining natural, outdoor recreational opportunities. 

Come up and ride with us. 

You will not be disappointed.