The route to the coast had two climbs. The first goes up almost to 2,000 feet and had extended sections of 12 to 15 percent grade according to my computer. But it was the first hill and the legs and the resolve were still strong so getting to the top via pedeling wasn't that hard. Then the road went back to sea level, across a bridge, and there is another climb of just under 1,000 feet. This one immediately went to 15 percent, but then I could see it got steeper, did a turn to the right, and kept going. I thought there was some chance I could tough it out, but an equal chance I could completely blow up, and I still had 15 miles and another 500 feet of climbing after this hill to get to my Inn for the night.
So I put both feet on te ground and pushed up the steepest part. I don't know what the grade really was because I wasn't walking fast enough for the bike computer to give me the calculation. After a few hundred feet the grade backed off and I decided this walking thing wasn't all cake either, my calfs started to think about complaining, so I got back on and pedaled the rest of the way. So there, now I have confessed it. There were no witnesses on the road, but I wanted to get that off my chest.
The ride back out to the main route today was easier. For one thing, all 2,500 feet of climbing was in one hill so there was no second punch. For another, it rarely went over 12 percent for any extended period of time. And for yet another, I wasn't trying to make time before the store closed or someone else got my room so I just took things slow and steady. The last 6 miles before joining the main route were on a single lane road that wound through the redwoods so it completely felt like I was surrounded by them. That was pretty excellent.
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Sent from my Treo(r) smartphone
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