orienteering3:31:36 9.87 mi (21:26 / mi) +2750ft16:58 / mi ahr:115 max:148
Not bad considering how bad the omens (and my decisions) were.
Bad decision #1. I'd decided yesterday evening that the best day to have a go at the Billygoat was Wednesday. I was tired after being on my feet much of Monday. My schedule worked better too. But when I woke up at 5 am and it was clear I wasn't going back to sleep, well, might as well go do the BG. Idiot.
Bad omen #1. I got to the Lake Bray entrance right at 7 am. Charlie had said that the gate was open by 7. The gate was open. You just couldn't drive in. They are in the process of repairing the I-91 support columns, but there was room to get by. But the cop was adamant. No cars until 8 am.
Bad decision #2. Right then and there I should have said, OK, Wednesday will be fine. But nope.
My plan had been to stash water bottles at each of the three crossings of the Lake Bray road, and then end up with my car at the start, halfway up the road. The idea being to not waste any energy in advance. Afterwards I could take a very slow walk up the road to fetch the car.
So the plan got modified. No bottle to the upper crossing, so even longer (2+ hours with no water). Just walk up to the start. Sure, why not.
Bad omen #2. Set to go at about 7:30, later than hoped (the day would get warmer), but not too bad. Started my back-up watch, started my Garmin. And, well, thankfully, I suppose, there is no video and there were no spectators. Within 10 seconds I was lying partly submerged in the teeny little stream just in front of the start. The rock I had stepped in mid-stream looked solid but it tipped the moment I stepped on it, and then I tipped, and in a split-second my only concern was keeping my map dry. Which I did.
Bad decision #3. It's not your day, go home, go back to bed. Nope.
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Fucked up the orienteering at the end. Pretty annoying.
Three falls, the other two on dry land, but nothing bad. Feel OK, just tired.
biking - dark blue bike45:47 11.11 mi (4:07 / mi) +91ft4:05 / mi ahr:109 max:125 weight:140lbs
Seemed like a good day to pull out the bike for the first time since January. Pumped up the tires, checked the brakes, spun the wheels, seemed good to go. Took a short and flat and easy ride south of town. Felt OK, though the butt will need a few rides before it settles in.
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Quite a few colorful guys passing through this month, such as Mr. Blackburnian.
hike with Gail1:14:56 [1] 4.24 mi (17:42 / mi) +455ft16:04 / mi weight:139lbs
Pine Hill Road in Conway. Perfect. Beautiful afternoon. Traffic was one motorcycle, 2 people, some chickens, and a garter snake. Kept our distance from all.
Then stopped to visit Walter, recuperating from non-trivial bike crash a few days ago -- concussion, battered shoulder and knee, plus lots of road rash. He's moving slowly and awkwardly, but at least he's moving. Doesn't remember anything from seconds before the crash until maybe 30-45 minutes later.
And then a little later stopped at the Blue Heron to pick up our take-out dinner. Dinner was delicious. The restaurant, just down the street from us, is suffering big-time, as most in that business are. Will have to do this some more.