MS 150 - Part 4 - Day 2

Back on the bike and heading back to McCall after the mid point of the ride. Left calf starting to tell me that it is wanting to cramp up. I kept telling it that it had to wait until at least Donnelly before it could do that (I didn't want it to get the best of me just yet). As I was heading back out I passed people that were just coming to the turnaround.

I made it safely to Donnelly after going across the very grating bridge. Stopped for a quick drink and got another Payday bar. Trying to get a little salt and a lot of sugar into the system. After getting refilled and refueled I took off towards Roseberry. Crossed the highway safely (thanks to the great volunteer support crew). After turning at Roseberry to go towards McCall the ride got interesting again. Deer started being a part of this little trip. The deer however, were behind a tall fence and they had little if any chance of trying to jump in my way. I did not make any attempt at trying to get in their way either. The place is called the Black Pine Deer Farm and they sell venison, hides and antlers.

I continued on my quest to finish this ride. I was passed by a couple of other bikers as I got near the Finnish Cemetary. One of them slowed to talk to me. He was getting wore out trying to keep up with the other guy. We kind of stayed at the same speed and caught up with several others out on the road. We turned onto the road going to the Jug Mountain parking lot. This was the final rest area before getting to McCall and I did not stay here long. I wanted to get going as quickly as possible. After filling the water bottle, I bid the volunteers ado and started back out on the road.

Going along I realized that I probably needed to refresh my sun screen so I stopped under a shade tree and got the little container out of my pocket. A couple of guys went by and asked me if everything was fine and I said that it was. I did wish that I could have taken the tree and its shade with me.

I stayed with this group down the first hill (nice 34 mile pace down this one, wind rushing through my hair). They headed out ahead of me and another group of about 5 passed me. As I started going up the next hill one of the guys that passed me had stopped. I asked him if he needed help and he said that he needed to stretch since his calf was hurting. I didn't stick around since that can be a contagious problem. I then caught up with the group that he was riding with and let them know that he would be coming.

Down the second hill I went. Not to much speed because near the bottom there was a right turn onto the road that we came up from. I saw that several people did miss this turn and had gone on down to the highway. I kept my speed up after the turn and went over a couple of inclines that I stood up on the peddles to just get to town. Caught up with 4 others at the light to get across the highway (the easy way to catch people). Across the highway we rode and down by the starting spot. This was not our destination, we needed to get to Alpine Village to get the meal that was awaiting us. After making a trip through some of the bumpy back streets of McCall we made it to our final destination.

Several people asked me if I would do it again and I said that this would indeed be something I would do again.

I would like to thank all those that donated money to this wonderful cause. Also, the volunteers need to be really congratulated on the effort they made in making this a very safe and fun ride.

MS 150 - Part 3 - Day 2

Sleeping on a squeaky bed is not fun. Sleeping on a squeaky bed when your body really needs to sleep is even less enjoyable. That is how I spent the night after the first 60 mile ride. I got up a little later than I wanted to but I got up nonetheless. Actually my body did not complain too much (especially after taking a couple of Aleve), which was better than what was going through my brain. I got all dressed in the Vandal garb again and Steve and Deb wore their Puerto Rico Jerseys. We rode over to the starting point and had a nice little breakfast there. The temperature this morning felt warmer then the day before. Just right for a 50 mile ride on a Sunday morning.

At the start line they made announcements about what was to come. There was however no announcements about deer or squirrels on this part of the ride so I felt a little more safe.

They had two different groups go this time: the fast group and the slow group. We started out in the slow group so that we could have a nice relaxing time. This route was going to take us on tour south of McCall on Farm-to-Market Road towards Donnelly and then on to Tamarack Resort. We stayed together as we passed by the McCall Cemetery to wave at my parents and Philip. Once we got pass them and turned to go by the airport Steve decided to head on out ahead of us. I, at this point was used to this and it did not bother me. So being the true brother that I am I left my sister to fend for herself and started out past others in front of me. The McCall Police stood at the intersection of the Highway and the road that we were on so that we could go across without having to stop at the light. The ride was pretty nice from here until I made it to the first hill of the day. It was at this point that I asked myself why I had not just slept in. However it was too late for that as we jockeyed for position to climb the hill. Slower bikers gumming up the operation, while experienced bikers tried to run them over. Good thing the top of the hill came up so that we could get going at a faster pace. I tucked down the backside to get some distance ahead of the slower people. After going around several corners I came to another hill. This one was steeper then the first hill but shorter. I made it up this with no problem and I was keeping up with some of the road bikers that I had met up with. As we moved toward the first rest area at parking lot for Jug Mountain the day was looking really nice. So far there was no sign of wildlife and I felt safe with that thought. The rest stop at Jug Mountain was a little over half a mile from the road so we had to turn off the road to get there.

I looked around for Steve at the Jug Mountain stop but did not see him at all. I figured that he had already come and gone before me (actually he skipped this rest stop and all but the turnaround rest stop). I grabbed a couple of Payday bars and some more water here and then headed on out. I saw my sister as I was heading out the access road to get back to the Farm-to-Market Road. We exchanged pleasantries and I continued on my way. This part of the ride was actually boring due to the fact that it was mostly flat and I could just go as fast as I wanted (as fast as my pedaling was allowing).

About 3 miles north of Roseberry (a little place just east of Donnelly) I joined up with a road biker and we rode together all the way to the next rest stop in Donnelly. As we peddled along we saw a case of water on the ground and a sign that was for the 25 mile group to turn around at. Good thing they gave them water however there were no snacks to be found.
I re-filled my water bottle and got some Gatorade at the Donnelly rest stop and headed on out to the turnaround at Tamarack Resort. A group of us got together to make this trek. However I ended up going out ahead after several people got confused at a bridge along the way. This bridge was not a very friendly one in that it had grating for its surface. I had no problem with it due to the big tires but the road bikers had some issue with it. I caught up with another person and I followed him on out to the turnaround. Along the way I saw Steve coming back towards the way we came (come to find out that he and the group he was with went past the turnaround since they had not set it up until after that group had gone by). At the turnaround I got some more water and some more food for the trip back.

To be continued…

MS 150 - Part 2

Steve and I started out from the turnaround. He snapped a picture of me while we where biking along on a straight stretch of the road (I guess we were doing some unsafe biking here). After going a few miles, Steve decided it was time to head out ahead. At this point we started climbing out to Secesh Summit to make fun descent to McCall. As I got going down the hill to the 20 mile rest stop (40 mile for those of us crazy enough to bike all the way), I felt the urge to tuck down to see how fast the bike would go. After looking down at my speed I looked up to see a deer in the other lane of the road coming into my lane. A three-point running across the road. Now this kind of scared me and I don’t even think I thought of an escape route. The deer however decided the road was not where it wanted to be and it ran off to the right side and ran beside me for a little while. I shouted at it as it ran beside me for a little way down the road. It decided that I was a little too weird, so it bounded off into the protection of the brush. It was at this point I was thankful that I had not tucked down otherwise I probably would have ran into the deer at 30 instead of getting scared at 20. I quickly made for the rest stop and reported on the deer that was hiding in the bushes scared of the weird bike rider.

After getting some nutrition and more water at the rest stop, Steve and I decided to head out again. Again riding together for a while before he decided that I was the slower one. I did not mind him going ahead. I seem to like riding by myself since it gives me time to contemplate all sorts of things. The rest of the ride down to the 10 mile rest stop (50 mile for those whose legs where about ready to fall off) was pretty boring except for the dead deer that was off to the side of the road. It was at this point that I was glad I had not hit the one previously because it would have hurt. I arrived safely at the rest stop and again got some stuff for the rest of the way in.

Steve and I started out this time with a goal in mind: he was going to ride out in front again and I would again meet him when he stopped. I of course did not mind the roll I had undertaken in this elaborate scheme. Just as long as I made it to the finish line for the day. That was my goal and I was sticking to it. We started out and I was soon behind Steve again but this time I was drafting. This is like when you are driving your car closely behind another car to kind of help you along with minimal work. We soon caught up with another person and passed him. At this point Steve got tired of pulling me and decided that it was best for him to head on out. So I ended up pulling the person that we passed for about 2 miles before he decided to pass me. Please note that my legs were starting to turn into jelly (don’t know what flavor but they were having a little problem working with each other). While passing me he asked if I wanted to follow him and I told him that I would be just fine by myself (more like please let me die all alone, I don’t want you to see the agonizing death). So he headed on out and I was once again alone to ponder the meaning of more interesting things. One of which was: what ran over those two squirrels back there and why are they in that pose? It looked like a scene from a Shakespeare tragedy (as Steve pointed out later). It seems that a previous biker ran over one of them on his way back into McCall. Don’t know if the other one was so distraught over this that it decided that life was no longer worth living for.

I somehow managed to catch up with some other people on the ride (ok, there was a stop sign and lots of traffic so they were waiting). We turned onto the main road by Lardo’s in McCall and headed back to the place we started from. As we got to the high school, I turned and headed to my parent’s house. Steve and Deb were there at the house. Steve, Philip and I headed down to the McCall Brewing Company after Steve and I got cleaned up. We arrived at the finish line by the Brewery riding in the Suburban. We went in where I bought Steve a couple rounds of beer, Philip a root beer and I had a nice dark drink that looked and tasted like beer.

After being there for about an hour and chatting with others who had made the long trip we decided that it was time to head back to the house and take a nice rest.

At the starting place for the bike ride they had a nice dinner for all of the riders and guests so we ended up going there to eat that evening. Eating was not the only thing on my mind as we arrived at this function. My body was telling me that there was something that it needed and it involved being elbowed, stretched and kneaded. Yes, they had a group of massage therapists there to make all of the aches go away. After slamming down dinner, I sprinted (hobbled) over to the tables lined up for the massage and waited in line. The massage felt great.

They had drawing for some items and then Maureen Manley (she was a world class cyclist in 1990 and 1991 and lives in Kirkland) spoke about her battle with MS.

After this we went back to the house and decided that sleep was the best thing for all. Tomorrow would be another busy day on the bike.

To be continued…

MS 150 - Part 1

Wow, what a ride. The first day was Saturday and the temperature in McCall before 9:00 was a blistering 38 degrees. We gathered together and heard the safety information about how we were supposed to ride safe. There was also the mention of coming in contact with wild life (yeah right, like we are really going to have a close encounter with a dear, moose or a bear). At exactly 9:00 we started our ride up Warren Wagon road towards Burgdorf and Warren (30 miles of some good hill climbing).

I got to wear a Vandal Racing jersey that my sister brought with her. She had on her Curious George jersey and her husband had on his Vandal Racing jersey. Quite a few comments from a few of the other 160 participants in the ride about the shirts. Most of them were asking where to get them at.

We had a rest stop every ten miles to get water if needed, to rest, and get some food. The first ten miles was pretty good. It was mostly smooth to that point with not very much climbing. My brother in-law (Steve) waited around for me to get there and then we waited for my sister (Deb) to show up. She was only doing the 20 mile ride so this is the point where she turned around at. After she got there Steve and I took off towards the second rest area. We rode together for a little while and then he decided to head on out. The road follows the North Fork of the Payette River all the way up to the Upper Payette Lake. It was a very nice morning for a ride along the river. Got to the lake and started the first of the 3 climbs that I would have to make. Near Twenty Mile Creek was the second rest area and Steve was there waiting. After a short time of resting we got back on and started out again.

Steve went ahead and moved out in front so I let him go. This was the hardest part of the days ride. Trying to go mostly uphill for about 6 miles. The other 4 miles goes down to the “Y”. Once I got to the Secesh Summit I could really pick up some speed to get to the half-way rest stop. I tucked down on the aero bar that I have an reached speeds over 30 MPH to get there.

It was nice to be able to rest for a little bit for the climb back out and then the trip back to McCall.

MS150 on the way

It is almost here. The longest bike ride I have ever done in 2 days. Almost 110 miles (60 on the first day and 50 on the second). The money raised goes for a great cause. My sister Deb and her husband Steve will be there to peddle along. We are getting all decked out in Vandal garb to show our Vandal pride. Bought three packages of Vandal tattoos today and we might use them all. :)

Stanley

Philip and I had a very nice time in the Stanley area. The Sawtooth Mountains are just simply spectacular. I had not stayed there in over 15 years so it was quite the nice time. We visited the Yankee Fork Dredge, Custer City, Sawtooth Fish Hatchery and Sunbeam Hot Springs.

The campground we stayed at was on Pettet Lake. It was a nice little place and the lake real nice.

We biked several times during the week. We did not go to far but did get to explore a little.

We got to fish at a pond they have at the fish hatchery. Caught 5 fish in 2 days. Nice looking Rainbow Trout.

The hot springs was neat. We went and laid down in the river where the hot springs entered. There was rocks situated to make nice little pools to mix the hot and cold water. Boy it sure felt good to do that.

Philip did a good job panning for gold in Custer City. Found a few flakes of gold. That was a pretty interesting ghost town.

Trail to Troy

Took the trail to Troy this morning. It was a blustery day with the wind coming from the west. There is a part in the trail where you have to go down to the road and then back up onto a gravel trail. You are on the gravel trail for a few miles before you come to the end of the asphalt trail that comes from Troy. I turned around after a half a mile on that trail. Ended up doing 23 miles this morning. Felt pretty good afterward but I am starting to tire out right now. I wonder how 60 miles will feel next Saturday in McCall. Oh, well, I guess I will have to just deal with it.

Today is Philip's birthday. He is 10 today.

Ride to Pullman and back

Had a nice ride to Pullman and back home this morning. Covered 22 miles and it was a very calm time to ride. Quite a few people walking once I got near Pullman.

I am sure getting excited about the MS150 ride coming up this next Saturday and Sunday. Over 100 miles in two days on the bike will be a challenge.

I upped my MPR (miles per Rosary) today. I did one Rosary in 3.5 miles. I think that I am getting a little faster on the bike after all of the riding that I have done.

I forgot to write about Philip's and mine trip to Stanley. I will do a separate post later.