Training Log Archive: Ricka

Ride with Recreational cyclists from Columbia IL to Millstadt and back. Nice collection of roads, especially in second half. More physical than expected: tired legs from Wed; hot; stiff breeze; rolling hills - good workout.

Hiked Flint Quarry & part of Chubb at Tyson with Sierra Club then stopped to see elk nd\\and bison at Lone Elk.

To and from Forest Park for Pace series run.

Hoping to break 9 min/mile; hit about 9:15. Felt tired but miles went quickly.

Training with Langtons and friend at Rockwoods. Walked Brown course from 2 years ago with Laura to hang tapes for others. Training focused on route analysis and execution - went very well. In earlier meet, I'd made errors on three of these controls - mostly due to poor planning - going straight and 'read map' versus slightly off-line safer routes. Good lesson.

There was extremely little underbrush but a lot more grass in woods than usual --> CHIGGERS again! We all spent 15 minutes at least scraping and taping them off.

Friend Anne led me on very hilly West County ride, including up Allerton Road from 44 to Greensfelder. Hot and a bit worn out from last 3 days. Whew!

Last day at Shirley Quad. Spent more time on flat trails next to stream beds - thick vegetation. No appeal except for one exceptional rock overhang - large fairly thin slabs extending well past bluff wall.

Overall, woods are fairly open and will be much more open once leaves are down. Except for stream beds, undergrowth isn't bad.

Slept last night at Berryman CG. Beautiful and nearly empty. Very simple, no fee, latrine but no water.

More of the same at Shirley Quad. ATV's (illegal, I believe) have had the largest impact on the trails. Any trails they use are wide, clean, but usually eroded on hillsides. They've also created a few new trails or short-cuts. Trails they don't use have nearly disappeared.

One attack by chiggers. No ticks and very few mosquitoes. Getting hot again. Camped last night at a site apparently popular with ATV'ers. Camp fire ban in Mark Twain - didn't need it.

I did see the remnants of a recent fire. Not large but they bull dozed quite a long firebreak around it.

Hiking the trails of Shirley Quad to update the map. Woods are feasible for orienteering. There has been no logging for 20 years, but bids are now being processed for resumed logging of areas not hit last time. Not certain about timing of the logging.