Enjoyed another great visit up to the N. Ga Mtns. Weather was perfect. No humidity and in the 70s. Met some cool folks who invited us to campfire with them. Took the SS up because I'm fed up with my stupid geared rig. I was pretty trashed Sunday after a huge effort on Saturday. I set several PRs on P1,P2 and Bear Creek in addition to getting KOM on the climb from MG to Bear Creek! I am really proud of that one. I think being on the SS helped because I couldn't granny it up and get lazy. It was almost 40 minutes of nearly all out effort to the top of the climb. Then I had a blast bombing down BC though too many hikers (boo!). P1 was it's usual badass slap-in-the-face self with some serious climbing right after leaving Bear Creek. P2 went by quickly today although my time was longer than last July at around 35 minutes. Feelin' good climbing over to P2 although FS90B can suck it!. Need more fire road climbing! P2 downhill was so much fun although had to dodge hiker with dog and slow noob. Passed two freaks biking up P2 then I did the same going back to meet up with Renee. Always nice to meet back up with her after a while of solitude. Back down P2 again for a double-dip of downhill daring. Biked out to 52 to get a few road miles in to kill some time. Then dirt road back to MG for an epic ham supper. (Renee also caught a yellow jacket in the eye but didn't get stung.)
Campfire with banjo. New terms: race gravy, fire penis
horrible sleep Saturday night due to dogs crowding me off bed. ( I love em anyway.)
Sunday had epic huge bfast with tons of sugar,fat,carb. (french toast with sugared fruit, ham, chz eggs, coffee)
Off to P3 and P4 and finished some more awful fireroad climbing. Goddamn wish I had more than one gear at this point. P3 toasted me again although I wasn't really pushing. One day I will clean those switchbacks. Finally found P4 with an amazing view of Brasstown Bald at the entrance. It was pretty short and had some climbing. Memorable quote from one of the guys in the group after finishing P4, "Mountain biking is dumb" ,said in a whiny voice.
Bombed back down P3 which is always stoooopid fast. Showered for the first time in 2 days then drove home. Yeeha!
I sick as I was of those damn mountains I'm already clamoring to get back at em.
Something wonderful is happening. I am being serious. For the past year or so I've been developing this sense of love and compassion for humanity. That sounds like a really broad, general statement but it's true. I'm becoming more perceptive of others and more forgiving. I believe we're all doing the best with the hand we're given. I use these words because I don't know how else to describe this very subtle feeling. It's a swelling in the heart and a sense of well-being and contentment. Some days it borders on joy. Sure, I still get irritated with nuisances like drivers when they tailgate me or cut me off in traffic but overall, I am developing something here. Maybe my soul is expanding. I'm beginning to feel as though I'm finally a part of the human race. In the past, I've felt so aloof and misanthropic so this is strange for me. I can't exactly pinpoint when it began. I wonder if it's just part of the maturation process but I hope...