Mt. Adams ride, 2011

This past Saturday, our group went up to Trout Lake to do the loop for the Mt. Adam's Country ride.  There was so much snow, they couldn't do the entire loop, doing an out and back instead.

 A note of caution on 'touch and bump' clinics.  VA paired with Craig and fell on the grass, ending up with a bruised acromian.

 Looking at Mt. Hood and Hood River from the Washington side

Starting out at Trout Lake

Mt. Adams

Tom, Bob, Teddy, Nancy, Craig, VA, Allan and Mark

I was still off the bike last weekend.  Another reason not to ride, a good one; our daughter moved to Irvine to start a new job!  We drove down last Thursday.  She is working as an ad coordinator for Source Interlink Media and started the 27th.  A real job!  We found a charming apartment within walking distance to her work and it's stucco, something she's liked since she was little.  Back Wed. and saw my ortho guy today.  I can start riding now and will go out tomorrow; pain will be my guide as to how much. 

A good dog in Spain

There were some good dogs in Spain.  This guy was particularly cute.

Spain seems to have animals all over the roads.

I have to add this one of the windmills at the top of a climb, day 3.

The DOG

Just got this picture off the Thomson Bike Tours album.  Joe, Bonnie's husband, the ICU doc, took a picture of the dog that chased us and caused the crash.  I do not like this dog!  (Note - he is on a line but was able to jump the wall and chase us).

I can't run, can't swim due to abrasions and now I can't even bike.  Went out yesterday and did a dismal 16 miles.  Every major muscle in my left leg hurts and the area over my bursa is still the size of a small melon. Boo Hoo.

Spain pictorial

Bilbao.  Aitor and Alex, Craig's customers.  

Day One, getting ready to ride

My favorite climb!  

Fuente De

Pre-fall, feeling good (although I was wearing two shorts for buttache problems)

The day after - notice the ice packed between my two shorts on the left

Old Roman bridge in Cangas de Onis

Le Vega, the start of Angliru

Took my shoes off after a 21% grade and walked a bit in my Nike Frees (packed into my back pockets, just in case)

Road to Angliru, our tiny van can be seen down there somewhere

Lola in Oviedo

View of Angliru from the hills of Oviedo (just above the tree)

One example of pre-Romanesque architecture of Asturias, the Santa Maria de Naranco, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Sweet Sidra

The BRUISE; I know, a bit weird to post on my blog!

'It's All About the Bike'

I read a great little book on the way to Spain, It's All About the Bike, by Robert Penn.  A must read for you riders that want or have a custom bike.

Small world

Lola arrived in Oviedo after taking an overnight bus from Madrid.  Now off to explore more of Oviedo.  The food of Asturias is amazing; yesterday we had langoustines, fabada, local lamb, and lots and lots of Sidra.

Done

We left our hotel in Cenera this am and are now in Oviedo.  The Angliru was hard.  We climbed El Cordal for about 6k before hitting the start of Angliru in La Vega, a small town in the mountains.  The climb stiffened after about 6.5k and a van stayed at a relatively flat spot.  I rode up with a young woman from Spain who spoke broken English, but I gathered her boyfriend was already at the top.  At a 21% grade, she hit a rough spot and unclipped so I went on.  My hip hematoma was getting worse with every pedal stroke and one of the C riders passed me; the A´s and a few B´s were already well on their way.  Finding myself alone was sometimes peaceful and othertimes a little scary, cliffs off to one side, amazing views of Oviedo in the distance.  Suffice it to say I did not make it to the top.  2.5 km to go, my excuse is a combo of hip pain, pitting edema of the left arm from the accident and just plain fatigue.  OK, so I just couldn´t do it.  I also was alone and debated trying for the top and riding down with Peter in the van (he was still sick and had driven a van to the top) as the clouds were coming in and the roads were already slippery with cow poop.  Long story short the descent was amazing, yet frightening.  The most amusing story is of the C group guy that made it - as the van was following the Á and B guys down, they passed the C guy going up who only had one km to go!  Truly well done.  The van had to find a spot to turn around and go back up!

The next VIP Thompson trip is in Austria.  Last year I said never again;  this year?  Debatable and only if VA and Mark goes with us. 

Next stop for me is the pool.  I want to see if anyone notices my bruise.  Pics to follow.