Remnants of a weekend

After a ten day layoff due to travel, I was back on the bike, feelin' happy

Out the door;  clunk . . . clunk . . . clunk

What's that?  The bike was fine when I put it away;  clunk . . . clunk . . . clunk

huh . . . must be my imagination, or perhaps frost heaves, no worries

BANG

oops . . . I guess it was something

no worries, just a flat tire, alone out on some gravel road somewhere

Just a bit cold, not much time before I need to meet some friends,

I'm sure the tire is fine . . . why wouldn't it be?

Heck, the tire only has 2,516 miles, and I paid all of $22 

It must be OK . . . just get it on, get going, be at

the meeting place at 12:00 . . . no worries

oops . . . maybe not . . . 

I made it all of 1/4 mile before

BANG

Of course, I only had one spare tube (I know better than that)

As I reach for my phone . . .

The team car!!!!

 . . . and a lift to the appointed meeting place

(Thanks to Max Jeronimus and girlfriend!)

I know someone will have a tube I can borrow, better check the tire this time

hmm . . . I guess it says "made in Taiwan," no wonder it blew(?)

but . . . to my rescue . . . Wayne! who actually lent me a brand new tire!

A little fender modification, and we're off!

Sunday morning comes, I'm way too lazy to be up at 4:30 to 

meet Farrow et al at 6:00 to ride the Heck course (they're crazy)

decision is to meet Dave etal at 12:00, somewhere along the N Shore

So, being slow . . . I decide to leave before 10:00, ride the Heck

course for an undetermined distance, bail, and meet Dave et al

First gravel section, not too bad, I see bike tracks . . . 

I know I'm hot on the trail of Farrow et al, only 4 hrs behind

Sure, a little icy . . . hmm, next road . . . even icier . . .

man, those guys are ridin' brave, this is crazy.

From time to time I see bike tracks in the snow, anywhere to get traction.

Wait . . . no more tracks, what's up with that?  Must be the wind blowing

snow, obscuring their tracks . . . no other possible option.

I'm sure I'll meet Farrow etal somewhere around Fox Farm, say "hi,"

bail and head to the shore to meet Dave et al.

Damn . . . these roads are really gettin' bad . . .

I wonder if Farrow et al are really out here.

Hegberg road . . . this is scary . . .

good thing I had those titanium collar bones installed.

Fox farm . . . hmmm . . . where are they . . .

bail as planned, or keep ridin' gravel . . .

gravel wins . . .

You know, Hill road is bad without ice, I wonder what it's like now?

hell . . . pure hell . . . 

100% slippery snow covered glaze ice, except the part with the sharp tire cutting rocks, can't believe I got past those.

Oh oh . . . an uphill . . . what's that on top . . . shit . . . a dog

(he looks at me as if to say: "mate, you got enough on your hands, 

I'm cuttin' you some slack today)

Survival . . . made it to the Laine Rd . . .

Maybe those guys are out here somewhere, I know . . .

I'll catch 'em where the North Shore trail comes out

nope:  no Farrow et al

I shoulda paid attention to that sign long ago.

What the "Heck?" might as well head up the Rossini a while

ahh . . . this is more like it . . . not ridin' white knuckle

I bet if I turn around just about here (1/2 way up), if I hustle I'll just make it 

to the MOCHA MOOSE in time for Dave et al

Hustle man . . . now you have a headwind . . . ride hard . . .

Arrive exactly on time, 1:30 . . .

What?  No other bikes . . . What?

Kayla:  Had Dave been here?  Nope . . .

slam a dbl espresso and ride . . .

ahhh . . . there is a God . . . a tailwind

hmmm . . .  Knife River . . . that means I can hop on the gravel

why not?

Thanks to the warmth of the Lake, only a few icy patches. Of course by now it is snowing . . . figures . . .

What's that ahead . . . sustenance . . . SuperAmerica

a two minute stop for a chocolate milk before the uphill home

Arrive home, garage door opens as if by magic

It takes me minutes to make it inside as I stand and quiver

Great solo ride, one of the best ever

Just over 5 hrs of pure unadulterated terrifying hell