RR: Pleasants Peak (aka what the *$&% was I thinking?)

[slowSSer]

So, I finally got back on the bike this past Saturday after over a month off due to many, many issues.

Also, I had to ride back up to the peak (1st b!tch of a climb past Beeks/Blackstar on Main Divide) for work- yes, they're putting another tower on top of that "hill", making the total at 6 or 7.

This re-visit was brought to you by a camera, that will never be used again, that lost my $*%&ing pictures.

If you care, my company are the crowd that gets the environmental docs done so that those towers can be built- we're also partially responsible for the fake-azz pine trees and palm trees you see.

The ride:
I get to the Blackstar gate at 7:15. Great- beat the heat time! Right? Hmm. No-more on this later. There are other riders as well, so this might just be a fine social ride. Heck, the last time I was on this trail was for the coup.

I Climb up Blackstar with out any issue, which is great- I didn't think that my back would be able to take it, but it was fine the entire time. My knees are out of whack though- my pedaling form is way off. Glad I didnt bring the SS!

Get to Beeks Place w/o issue and in not too bad a time at just about 2 hours. I'm feeling good about that, considering the time off the bike.

I make it to the golfball and stop to chat with some of the guys that i chased/led/chased/led (etc.) up Blackstar. I fid out they're heading back down. I later realize what smart fellas they are. They find out where I'm headed and a joke comes out about "a nice flat ride" that I've got ahead of me. hardy har.

note: this is where it gets HOT. the sunscreen stopped working at about this point as well. and as you all know, there is next to zero cover. The only salvation was the occasional breeze that feels cool to me.

So, we go our seperate ways. about 5 minutes later I'm fixing a flat: NOTE TO EVERYONE- STAY AWAY FROM THE GOLFBALL!!! THERE'S GLASS AND POINTY STUFF EVERYWHERE!!!! downside?? I have no idea what punctured my tube- zero evidence in the tire, and just a tiny hole in the tube.

Fine. Fixed that. Move on! I make it to the top and my turn off for Pleasants is within sight and get to see some wildlife- I spooked a large mule deer out of the bushes. He/she bounds across the road and then stops. The deer turns and looks at me from just off the road. The look on the critter's face was along the lines of "what the he!! are you and I doing up here?" priceless. The deer then moves on with it's day and I make it to my destination.

I camp on the shady side of one of the buildings for a few minutes and then take the pictures that I need for work. did I mention it's hot?

Now it's time to head down- I never knew what a fine easy DH run that whole road back to the car is!

ok, I'll shut up now. here's a few boring pics. Gawd- work sucks, don't it?

Pics:
1. toward the OC and that fine could layer that y'all had
2. the big damn hole for the project- it's about 20' x 20' and 5-10' deep. that'll be a lot of concrete
3. Toward the inland moat- glad I didnt come up skyline!

[BAD_S197]

nice pic of the valley...

btw: was it hot up there?

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by BAD_S197

nice pic of the valley...

btw: was it hot up there?

kinda.

jeez- I typed too much.

[BAD_S197]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

kinda.

jeez- I typed too much.

You typed enough to get me even more motivated to come ride with some of you guys soon.

Some of the views are incredible and it looks from the forum standpoint that it's a great bunch of people to ride and hang out with.

[foofighter]

great pics! i would avoid staying up on top of those peaks w/ all those microwave dishes around. they do funny things to people.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by foofighter

great pics! i would avoid staying up on top of those peaks w/ all those microwave dishes around. they do funny things to people.

I know- part of the industry, though. in reality, as long as you stay at least 10-15 feet away from the front of the microwave antennas, you're ok- that and anything over about 20 minutes exposure can potentially be bad.

did anyone else know that the biggest tower on that peak was the outer marker for John Wayne Airport? i thought that was kinda cool to discover!

[foofighter]

you work in the industry? i work for t-mob managing their vendors while we build out the network. Yah i've been on rooftops full of antennas and microwaves and it's not fun...maybe it's pyschological but i just get a weird sensation when on the roof.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by foofighter

you work in the industry? i work for t-mob managing their vendors while we build out the network. Yah i've been on rooftops full of antennas and microwaves and it's not fun...maybe it's pyschological but i just get a weird sensation when on the roof.

yeah- TMO, AT&T, Verizon etc are all clients of ours- our compliance docs are usually done about 1-2 years before anything is typically built. we do the NEPA and Phase I's.

rooftops covered in antennas (4-5 carriers) is a little strange. everything hums.

[foofighter]

sweet...you work for EAS? or a sub for them? that's who we deal with mostly here. that's cool, small world

[OMR]

Ethan, nice job on the RR... I knew there was a reason I'm not riding the Main Divide right now!!!... although, I've committed to ride Gene's newbie ride to Beek's in early August... temps should be in the 60's by then.... yeah, right!

How's your dad doing? Wish him well for me and tell him I'm waiting to do Bell ridge with him in the future... errrr, the future when it's cooler.

OMR

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Ethan, nice job on the RR... I knew there was a reason I'm not riding the Main Divide right now!!!... although, I've committed to ride Gene's newbie ride to Beek's in early August... temps should be in the 60's by then.... yeah, right!

How's your dad doing? Wish him well for me and tell him I'm waiting to do Bell ridge with him in the future... errrr, the future when it's cooler.

OMR

thanks, OMR- dad's doing fine. I'm not sure if the docs are going to let him back onto the bike though.

I'm thinking i might commit to Gene's ride but we might have a bouncing baby girl by then.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

So, I finally got back on the bike this past Saturday after over a month off due to many, many issues.

If you care, my company are the crowd that gets the environmental docs done so that those towers can be built- we're also partially responsible for the fake-azz pine trees and palm trees you see.

Congrats on getting back on bike. best wishes to your pops


Fake trees??? - but they look so real. sort of angelic with halo

[genusmtbkr5]

Ethan, good RR. Nice to hear you're back on the bike and that your Dad is doing well. Hope to ride with you again soon.

[OMR]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

thanks, OMR- dad's doing fine. I'm not sure if the docs are going to let him back onto the bike though.

I'm thinking i might commit to Gene's ride but we might have a bouncing baby girl by then.

Glad to hear your dad's doing better... and it's not a question of if your dad's doctors will let him back on the bike... he'll climb back on if he really wants to when he's healed up.

Also, be sure and announce on the board when the happy event happens ... he he he... your life is going to change in ways you can't even imagine.... he he he

OMR