I can paint you a faster bike

Today was an excellent day of biking. The weather, views, lunch stop and roads were all top drawer. The body has no major complaints from yesterday, and it was just a great day to be alive and moving.

But it still harder to move at the end of the day than at the beginning. After a while even the smaller hills aren't greatly appreciated. . So when we saw West Beach Road on the map we were excited. It goes right along the Strait of Juan De Fuca, and we figured that if it's along the beach, it can't have much elevation change.

That delusion lasted for a mile or so. Then we saw the hill, it looked like it lasted a half mile plus or minus. My bike computer read a maximum of 14 percent grade, which is kinda nasty on a loaded touring bike. But right at the bottom before we headed up was a little lot on the water side. There were 3 ladies there with easels painting. So I called out to them 'Could you please paint me a smaller hill to ride up?'

The first woman replied with a 'huh?' The second replied with a hearty laugh. And the third one replied 'I can paint you a faster bike'. That didn't make the hill any shorter or flatter, but it was a lot easier to ride the hill with a smile on my face.

I think that will be my battle cry for the rest of the ride.