I Could Be Ready...

 Some sunny weekdays just beckon you to come ride. I answered the call with glee. The 75 mile route I had planned would take me out north of Farmington, providing me with the hours in the saddle I needed and the hills to help prepare me for California's jarring entry into real mountains. I packed a lunch and took off early, eager to spend the day on the road.

One of the best things about biking is the scenery. I take for granted how lovely it is here- even in the winter- but especially in September when the skies are often a clear blue, the air is light, and the scenery stunning. My initial destination was Clearwater Pond, a gem of a swimming place hidden in downtown Industry. To get there, I had to climb up Cape Cod Hill in New Sharon. The payoff was this view of the western mountains. Hard to keep your eyes on the road-wait a month and it will be a blanket of reds, golds, and oranges.

Along the Industry Road I came upon a small house with a garden so rich in these sculptures (all made of found materials) it was hard to decide which one was my favorite. This one won out slightly over a triceratops faced menacingly at the road. 

Lunch at Clearwater Pond was a treat. It was about 35 miles in so I was ready for the stop. As I munched on my PB&J I heard someone singing- a man, probably about my age, swimming and singing and living his absolute best life. He's probably just behind the wall in this photo. I also shared a laugh with a pair of kayaking ladies who asked me NOT to watch them get out of their kayaks, saying that grace often fades with age. We are all literally in the same boat.

Off to Farmington and then out to Temple, all along back roads with little paint or traffic. My favorite kind of riding! The hills got steeper but the legs stayed in the game, I'm happy to say. I cranked up the backside of Titcomb Mountain on the Temple Rd and swooshed right down into Wilton where I got a bit turned around- after crossing this stream I somehow had routed myself on the Whistle Stop Trail. Oops! 

From here I headed up Zion Hill and then the Esker. Except I wasn't ready to go home. It had "only" been 60 miles or so and I still had gas in the tank. That's what made me turn right onto Boroughs Rd and hills that rivaled the ones in Farmington. 

And here's the truth. I felt great all the way through. I drank enough, ate enough, and stopped enough to enjoy a day that included 81 miles, lots of sun, and 7100 feet of elevation. I won't be coasting up the Southwest's mountains- but I won't be crying either. I am ready!