Ugh.

All thoughts of attempting anything like the Terrible Two went promptly out the window today. Boy, did I suffer. And I should have known what kind of day it would be when I pissed on my new Sidi shoes at the Moscow pit stop.

As always, I was dropped as soon as the pavement went vertical. I tried to stick with Mike and Allison, to no avail. All of the climbing sucked and my throat was on fire. I prayed for a cool wind at my back down the coast. Happily, I found a few tight and shinies at Stewarts Point and we motored down the coast. I shouldve sat in, but I wanted to show off, so I went into the red zone with a straight face, pulled through, rode straight, pretended to be comfortable, and made small talk. I paid for this a thousand-fold, as they kept rolling down the coast, opting not to climb Fort Ross.

I forged up the climb alone. It took me 45 minutes and I walked about 1/4 of it. I was so sick, tired, and demoralized that I became irrational. I was actually cursing Jesse for not having the foresight to be waiting at the top with a glass of lemonade and a ride home.

Everything after Fort Ross is a blur. I know I caught up with Fisher, my guardian angel, at some point because I remember riding with him. Oh yeah, we rode up Willow Creek together. I think he made conversation with me just to make sure I was still lucid. Thanks Fisher.

Before I wrap this up, let me just say that you Bobas are a bunch of sissies. I cant believe it. I mean, it would be one thing if you were all at the front, setting pace for Chris Kinney, or carrying water bottles for him, or whatever. But to just bail out, with no explanation? I mean cmon. You cant ride 90 stinkin miles? Youll have to make this up to me, big time.

Id also like to point out Brendas tidy finishing time. Way to hand it to the boys! "Woot-Woot" (-hk)

-Clairebell

Here We Go Again...

This is where I make being dead last in every single Grasshopper sound interesting (like that crash you cant take your eyes off). The day began great, all cotton candy and kittens. I now feel terrific in the middle of the pack and it lured me into thinking everything would be okay.

The climbing began, and it was really hard! Usually I can find a pace to settle in with, but not this time. It just got worse and worse! By the time I reached Stewarts Point, I decided I would hitch-hike up Ft. Ross. Since there was not a lot of traffic, I started my hitch-hiking effort along the coast, looking back on it, the motorist probably thought I was flipping them the bird!

At the bottom of Ft. Ross I had a sandwich and waited for the truck that would surely come....nobody came. And I managed to delude myself that the coast would be a better choice, so I blew off Ft. Ross and went down the coast. Now I can accept being last all the time, but not doing the the whole course is another matter- It sucks to be this hammered and know I didnt even do the whole thing, wah wah!!! Okay I got that off my chest.

It was really nice to see Willow Creek. Its in even worse shape than GH1 without the sticky mud but more dismounts (3). There is still so much water flowing along the bottom. About halfway up, I stopped for one of the three hike-bikes and found some yummy chocolate and it really cheered me up. When I got back to town, George was still there, beaming because he had a great race. Go homeboy!! I also heard that Brenda P. had a fabulous day too! Yay! Clairebell totally amazed me by doing the whole enchilada with a raging sore throat, you go girl!

Thats about it, Im off to go learn how to ride a single speed!

hk

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