Romp Around Middlerun

If I had to describe my soul in a picture, this would be it. This is just so beautiful to me. When I hit this field section today I felt like I had just come home.


So whenever I get out on my bike I usually head out to White Clay. It's fast, it's fun and I know the trails like the back of my hand. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. Good because when I'm short on daylight, I can time a quick ride based on my knowledge of the trails. Bad because I'm tired of riding the same thing...over and over and over and over. Well, you get the picture. I'm bored. I love White Clay, don't get me wrong. But I need a change. Here's the problem with trying somewhere new: A)Getting lost - and by yourself at that. I get freaked when I'm lost out there by myself. If I have company-no biggie. 2)Sunset - usually I'm squeezing in a ride after Bry gets home which means (even in summertime) that daylight is scarce and getting lost in the woods, by myself is NOT on my list of things to do.
This morning I was determined to get out there. Bry is working 2nd shift, which gave me the childcare I needed to get a ride in early in the day. WOOOHOOO! Well, I was short the $3 to pay for parking at White Clay so it was inevitable that I hit Middlerun.
What you have to understand is that, for whatever reason, Middlerun is extremely problematic for me. Here's why: I don't know my way around all that well (I have the worst sense of direction EVER) and there are descents that literally make my legs quiver with fright and almost get me hyperventilating. This picture is that of my old foe. I've yet to ride this downhill. It doesn't look like much, but it freaks me the hell out. It's loose rock/dirt, mixed with big rocks and some roots. That combo is enough to make me shit in my shorts. It's totally a mental thing. But I am mental.
I was pleased with the ride today because I actually muddled through a manageable loop. I got a little lost & back tracked, but not much. I even managed to find the elusive Dragon's Back trail - or whatever it's called - that Diane was so kind to show me the last time we were out there together. Here is another looker that I have yet to ride. In fact, the first time I stacked it was at these here logs.

People don't understand, unless they ride themselves, when I say "I'm going for a bike ride." They think I'm hopping on a beach cruiser bike and pedaling around the neighborhood. I'm not trying to say I'm this big pro bike rider person. Because the truth is that I can barely get clipped in. But it's not what most people think it is. So I thought I'd share with those of you who know I ride, but don't understand......

Riding does something that no other sport or physical activity has done. I've actually lost weight from it this year. I feel alive when I'm doing it. It makes me sweat like nothing else does. It breaks me down like nothing else. When I come home after riding, I feel tiredly content. I notice that I'm a much nicer, happier person when I ride. And Bryan would probably say that he notices I put out more when I ride. And, 'tis true! Riding bikes..........good. Not riding bikes.........bleck.