With the golf game and the ACS middle management meeting yesterday (which didn’t finish ‘till 8:30pm), I didn’t ride home last night. However, Corrie and I did run up to work and picked up the bike so I was able to ride this morning. I guess I should consider getting another $20 pack of bus tickets for days like today, eh?
This morning’s ride was awesome. Even after 18 holes of golf yesterday (which I was pretty sore this morning, but walking muscle sore not biking). It was VERY windy, coming from the south. Mostly I didn’t notice any type of head winds, but the trees were blowing around pretty good. Unfortunately, I missed one of the hills at Rose Hill pipeline section as my chain decided to jump off the ring when I shifted to granny gear…
As I was going across the single-track trail on Frolek’s land and that bird I saw on my ride in on Tuesday the 7th was on a tree right near the trail. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice him ‘till he suddenly took off making a rather abrupt noise that made me think I was finally going to see an infamous bear! And the noise the bird made I was sure the bear was running AT me… Of course, all of that went through my mind in milliseconds before I looked up and saw the bird… Not sure what kind of bird he is, though? He was huge, about the size of an eagle. Very dark brown feathers, with a 2-inch white/gray tip along the ends of both wings. He has a bit of red and yellow/beige on this head/beak, which makes me think vulture. But vultures typically have an entire red head, right? So, I really am not sure what he is. But big, and he gave me a bit of a jump for sure this morning, hah!
Shortly after that, I came around a corner and hear a crashing in the bush what seemed like just over the hill. So now I’m REALLY getting jumpy! It was a very loud crashing, so I figure it must’ve been a tree falling over with the wind, as a black bear wouldn’t be big enough to make that much noise. Granted, if it was a bear, he was big and I am REALLY glad I didn’t see him in the end! Hah!
Of course, being jumpy already, with the wind picking up, I was rather nervous riding through the “Forest of the Dead” (as I have named it, see the second half of my July 19th (Morning) post). I made it through unscathed, so all is well that ends well!
I made it down and through the creek with good speed, and FINALLY made the climb up the bank on the other side again! Yay! The rest of the ride was good, I made the climb up without issue, made the two sandy sections (which I feel like I’m learning how to control much better now).
I think I’m finally going to be able to put through my MEC order today or tomorrow which means I should get the new mouthpiece for my water pack shortly and can stop having to live with the constant dripping on my knee… 
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