Studying at MAHEC

Today I am at the Mountain Area Health Education Center studying and
doing research for a class project. This afternoon I'm headed to Bent
Creek to mountain bike with my buddy Brian Burns.
Here's a shot of me during a study break.

Praying Mantis are alive!

We finally decided to mow the grass. Only the second time this
summer, it was bad. Jennifer had to go around with a rake to make
sure there were no turtles hiding in the tall grasses, I mean weeds.
We found no turtles, just a few mature male and female Praying
Mantis. We were scared that after the late freeze in April, the one
that killed all the baby mantids, we would not see any this year.
Well, here they are!

Tuesday night group ride

Tonight's Motion Makers ride was a hoot. I made it up to the post
office at Balsam gap in 53 minutes. Not bad for being out of shape.
Here are the fast guys waiting at the top for the others to join. Its
a nice gesture, that really makes this the best group ride around! I
was out of position and got gapped when someone jumped on the way
back in. There is always next week....

A day with dad and the big trees

In the far western reach of the state is a wilderness area called
Joyce Kilmer, that claims to have the largest trees east of the
Mississippi river.
Not many people know about this place, but I think everyone should
see what the trees looked like before we cut them all down.
Dad and I really enjoyed this visit.

on the parkway

Here we find a shot of Jennifer eating blueberries on the Blue Ridge
Parkway last week

training ride on the BRP

Nothing like a 70 mile ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the summer!
We met at the coffee shop, 6 in all, even a cyclist from Raleigh! The plan was to ride the Tour de Tuck metric century route.
We stopped in Cherokee to top off the fluids (the ranger station on Waterrock knob is now closed, thanks Bush!).

The climb to Soco gap is 11 miles. When I say 11 miles, I mean 11 miles of constant 7 or 8% grades. I stopped once to put my rear light on, there are 4 tunnels on this section, and once more before the gap for a 2 minute rest and some photos.

At the top we encountered a major storm, so we decided to wait it out. I wish I had gotten this message, as I thought we were abandoning the ride. I dropped off of the mountain on hwy 19 into Cherokee. About 10 minutes later I realized I was the only one that abandoned. Jennifer called me to tell me they had taken refuge in a gas station near the pass. They continued on, I rode back through Cherokee and on to Sylva. I was steaming, not mad, but from the heat. They were enjoying temps in the upper 60's and I was in the 90's for sure.

I met the gang at Annie's Bakery in Sylva for a post ride bagel and some sugary treats.
Jen and I cleaned up at the house and went right to sleep. My legs are tired.
Till next time,
TC