I've been working lately, but my work stuff isn't quite as entertaining as my life... so I'm going with posts from my life these days. Hope you all don't mind!
We went to Devil's Den this weekend for the Ozark Mountain Bike Festival and had a blast. We camped in our new gigantic, 6-person tent that perfectly fit 2 adults and a toddler. We took 4 cars to camp with another family of 3 and my friend Rachel. I mean seriously, how much stuff can you take camping? We really need to work on consolidating!
We arrived late on Friday, set up our tents by the moonlight and enjoyed a yummy dutch oven lasagna by the campfire. Oh, and plenty of wine!
Sat. morning started out with dutch oven biscuits by Marcus followed by a 3 hour women's ride around fossil flats. Yes, this is an extremely long time to ride 6 miles of trail, but we had expert riders all the way down to virgin riders. I love riding my mntn. bike, but I really love it when other women get a chance to experience a ride without any pressure or intimidation from others, especially men. We rode, stopped, talked about areas of the trail and how to ride them, then rode on (and Kathy stopped to look at all the flowers). It was a great learning experience and confidence building ride. I rode my first creek crossings and nailed them! I'm not talking a little water flowing over rocks, I'm talking water almost up to your knees flowing so hard it tries to pull your bike out from under you. It was awesome, but even more awesome was the end of the ride.
If you've ever ridden or hiked fossil flats, you know it ends by crossing Lee creek at campsite A. Majority of the time it's a dry or almost dry crossing. Well, we finished our non-threatening ride and came up to the knee-deep waters of Lee creek and there was this guy. Well, he had to walk into the water in his jeans to show us how deep the water was, and then proceed to tell us how to properly use our bikes as an aid to get across the creek. Come on, you know I'm extremely competitive. So what do I do? I nail it. I mean I rode so hard across that creek that I got a standing ovation from some expert rider friends that were standing on the other side. Talk about an ego boost! I hope that I have the skills to do that again b/c that day I think I was fueled by that guy, and the fact that I didn't win the Trek Women Who Ride contest... Oh well, life moves on and you have to pay for a new bike. Dang!
I do want to say that my B.F.F. Rachel kicked some serious butt on the ride. She is no longer a virgin, though she claimed it's been a long time since anyone has called her that. I was really proud of her for going out and riding as hard as she could. I hope she'll one day get as addicted as I am (And I hope she gets over all the bruises that have consumed her body).
There's just nothing like the rush from the wind blowing through you hair, mud splashing on your legs and face as you steer around trees and over rocks just hoping you don't crash.... just to get up and do it again.
Creek crossing 1/2 way through the trail.
Kate crossing the creek.
All the single (track) ladies.
It pretty crazy that these photos were all shot within 24 hours, but that's just how quickly life changes. I've known Dave and Lori for years and it's been really fun to watch them go from dating, to marriage and now kids!
Little miss Mia and those eyes!
Momma and her girls.
