Mountain Biking Days 3 and 4

I went biking with James last night.  Just the two of us.  He has been wanting to see where we bike and just what kind of trail it is.  He really enjoyed the trail.  It is still slow going for me.  We have to bike up the road for half a mile, maybe a mile.  I really don't know.  I'm a terrible judge of distance.  Anyway, that ride up is hard for me.  I end up walking part of the time when I just can't pedal anymore.  But I do expect that will change!  My legs were so tired last night after James and I got home, and I was worried about how they would feel in the morning since Cecily and I were planning to go this morning at 5:30.

 

I did fine!  Actually I did better this morning than I did last night.  Both biking up the road and biking on the trail.  Yes!  I was definitely the slowest one of the group, hopefully that will get better too.  But I didn't feel quite so afraid today.  Still nervous, but not so afraid.  I can feel that I'm making some progress.  Wow, my legs are tired though!

Mountain Biking: Day 2

We went mountain biking again today!  My friend Cecily, her sister Julia, and this time Julia's husband Tom.





Last time we only went about half way up the mountain, then turned around and came back.  Today we reached our previous turn-around point in about half the time it took us last time.  WOOHOO!!! That felt good.  So then we continued on up the mountain clear to the top and then took the road down.  And guess what?





I crashed!  TWICE!!  Nothing too terrible.  After the first time I practiced that spot 3 more times and didn't crash again.  The second time I crashed I learned that even if it looks like you are riding on the edge of a cliff and you think you would just tumble clear to the bottom of the mountain like Westley and Buttercup if you should happen to crash right there, you really don't.  The mountain probably isn't as steep as it looks and you really just crash and land right there in the brush and get lots of leaves stuck in your helmet.  Well, maybe just one or two.





I am actually relieved to have those first couple of crashes out of the way.  They weren't nearly as bad as I had anticipated them being.





Thank you, THANK YOU, to Cecily, Julia, and Tom for all your encouragement today!

Goodbye you Great Big Chicken!

I have always thought of myself as the biggest chicken in the world.  If not the biggest, then pretty darn close.  You see, I am afraid of just about everything.  Heights, the dark, animals, WATER!  Ack!  There are just so many things to be afraid of!  The one nice side to all of this is that I have a dear friend who is also afraid of everything.  We are afraid together!


But, that is going to change.  In fact it has already begun to change.


Yesterday my friend, her sister, and I went mountain biking.  Real, holy cow, so scary, way too fast, single track mountain biking!  We did it and we lived!  WHEW!  And we are going again tomorrow morning.  Before our memories of yesterday have a chance to get too scary and we loose our nerve. 


We actually are planning to get over more than just our fear of hurtling down a narrow mountain trail on a bike.  But I won't divulge all of those plans just yet.  After all, we are still at the very beginning, and it just wouldn't do to tell you everything right from the start.  It just wouldn't!


Since this blog is supposed to be all about my adventures and pursuits I do plan to document this whole process.  I really think it will be a grand adventure.  One that I want to be able to share with my children, grandchildren, and so on.  Because even if I do fall flat on my face, maybe even multiple times, I will be able to say that I tried.  And I want them to know that and know that they don't have to be so afraid like I have been. 


So, here's to lots of deep breaths, a few sore muscles, and hopefully a whole lot of fun.