Bicycle on the brain

Today was a long day.54-miles, 6-hours-20min. pedaling,8600 ft. of climbing. We started out At the shop in Big Bear. Climbed plantation, Went downs Clarks to Seven Oaks. Then we climbed up middle control rd. to Angelus Oaks and climbed the fire rd. to Thomas hunting Ground. Rode some fun single track that was way grown over. I haven't riden this section in like two years. WAY Fun and technical. From there we rode down to hwy38 from morten peak rd. Climbed 3-miles up to Loc Leven. Up Loc Leven to angelus oaks. Thats when we split up. I brought my lunch, Dereck, Jasen,Paul,and Dan went to the Resturant in A.O. I rode down Middle Control Road to Seven Oaks. Bout a soda and a bag of chips to go with the sandwich that I had brought. Went across the street to the Santa Ana River
and had a wonderful break in the shade. took my shoes off and soaked my hurtin dawgs. This was the only picture I took. The water was soooooooooo cold! it felt great. After lunch I cleaned up and started my death march. Two miles from the gate Jasen caught me. After that Paul showed up. When we got to the top by the entrance to Pirates Jasen took off as Paul and I Waited for Dereck. We didn't wait long.2-minutes if that. From there we climbed the Bitches over to 1e01. Super fun single track right back to the shop. Fish Taco's and I was home.Now it's time to sleep. Beach Trail in the morning.

Today I wasn't to sure what i wanted to do or were i wanted to go knowing tomorrow I will be doing 60-miles in the dirt with 10,000ft. of climbing. Torture to some, slow pleasant pain to others. I decided to head up hwy 38 to Angelus Oaks or climb for 3-hours, which ever came first. I left home around 11:30 and headed out green spot. Only 16-miles in and I was already refilling my bottles. IT was HOT! It was a quick stop at the jerky store and I was off. As I was headed up hwy38 I saw Adam and I think I saw Joy also, not sure what kind of car she drives. They were probaly enjoying the single track as I torture myself in 100-plus degree heat
Made my second break at the store in Angelus Oaks. When I stopped I just was pouring sweat. I made it to the store in 2-hours15mins.
Refilled my bottles with some nuun sipped on 1/2 a soda,5-Ecaps, ate a bar and got back on the road.
I climbed for about another 30-minutes and started spacing out on The Radford Rd. climb. I keep staring at it. It was laughing at me, Taunting me, then I decided to turn around and head home. I need to be in Big Bear @6:30 and get some grub. I think I got to much sun today. 70-miles 4-1/2 hours of pedaling

My plan for Thursday was to ride to Big Bear camp out ride to Onxy hit up the single track and head home. It started out as planned. I left my Pad at 11:30 in the morning. I knew it would be hot but I wanted to get to Big Bear just at dark so I could get to sleep and get an early start to Onxy via some single track i'm not sopposed to be on ;-). But then after about 21-miles in I see smoke in the direction I was heading. SO I had to make a choice. Take a chance and freak my wife out or play it smart so I can ride another day. I decided to play it smart and head home. When I got home I saw the news and found out the fire was in yucaipa at the corner of hwy38 and Bryant St. I thought the fire was behind the dam or at Morten pk. from my view point but it was actualy on the other side of the hwy. But anything could happen with the wind and it could spread whichever way it wanted to go. Thats way its called a WILD FIRE.
First bit of shade of the day. I had climed from East Highland up 1n21. It was about 1-1/2 hours to this shady spot. It felt good to stop for a second and enjoy this bit of shade, knowing it would probally be my last for another hour.I had plenty of water but I was drinking it fast to lightin the load.

I shouldn't have shown this picture to my wife. She freaked out thinking i'm pedaling threw a shooting range or something. It was HOT! There was knowbody out there but me. I did see one motorcycle guy out there but know one was shooting guns on this day.

The smoke looked closer than it was. about five minutes after this pic the valley was filled with smoke. The crows and small birds were squaking and made all kinds of noise's like a warning or something. When I got back to the 1n09 sign full of bullit holes I headed up to the hwy instead of going back down Elder Gulch(1n21). When I got down to city creek forest station and looked were I had came from it was very smokey. Good thing I turned around. Rideing it the smoke would not have beenfun.
Sunday I'll be rideing with Dereck and the Team from the shop down Clarks to Angelus Oaks and then back up radford and do 2n10 to plantation back to the shop.