5.27.44

I rode the Colville Connection a week ago for the second time, and was privileged enough to be able to so with Girl Lightning, Steptoe, Jez, Stebby and Mr T.

I have not written a blog regular like for some years and my first attempt thus far has felt clumsy and forced, It will come back to me I am sure, Until then, and after several re edits and deletions here's. a breakdown of the weekend of March 7-9.

March 7
Annual Leave. Clean Bike, Buy Jerky, Kiss Rebecca, Kiss Thomas, Kiss Lola, Put Bike on car, pack things into car, drive to Colville, Drink water, Eat Jerky, Check in, meet studs next door, Argue with self about buying beer, lose (or win) argument with self, buy beer, drink beer in sun with book, feel nice, go and register, come back, eat tea (sorry, Carbo load), pass out secondary to parasympathetic nervous system, await Girl Lightning, Steptoe and Jez's arrival, Meet for first time women from Opotiki, Watch crass movie for short time with them, make excuses, retire to room, read book,pack gear for morning, check gear for morning, think about coming DFL. check gear again, drink water, check gear, practice mindfulness, leave gear, Girl Lightning, Steptoe and Jez arrive, hug, talk, laugh, try to sleep. don't. homesick, miss Rebecca, Miss Thommo, Miss Lola. fuck

March 8
Up at 0600, Knock on Girl Lightning's door as requested, make coffee, knock again on door, interpret bang on wall as some kind of primitive snooze button, go to communal kitchen, meet up with Jez, eat till feel sick, Joke and laugh with GL, Steptoe and Jez about our crazy jobs to the general horror of other kitchen users, steal some Ensure (sorry, Mega Protein Fuel) from Steptoe, Encourage Jez to eat more, Pack Gear, Load bikes, take "BEFORE" photo with GL, Steptoe and Jez, Drive to Colville with Girl Lightning, Listen to XTRMNTR on IPod on headphones on way, GL listens to metal. Get To Colville, Warm up with GL ( A first), eat more, meet up with Steptoe and Jez, Bullshit about times, meet up with Stebby and Mr T.
Briefing. Toilet, Line up, Count down,

GO. Am immediately astounded by GL's pace, resolve that A) I was kidding myself attempting to keep up, and B) next ride we do, she has to tie one leg behind her back, or ride with one shoe, or something, Settle in, Surprisingly, Catch Girl Lightening, banter, Settle in, Spin spin spin, keep girl lightning in sight until big hill, Loose Girl Lightning very quickly on horror of muddy hill, think positive, get feet wet, get blisters on sole of both feet, wonder where Stebby is, get passed by Steptoe 2/3 of way up hill, resolve to dig in a bit, catch steptoe at top, Attempt to scrape mud from cleats, but prevented by cramp, make do by kicking pedals, ride down big hill with Steptoe (you Killed it man, awesome). CRAMP at bottom. fall off bike, try to appear casual whilst lying down.get given crampstop by a gentleman on a lime green Kona hardtail, gratefully accept same, ride with steptoe, feel better, fill packs at fletcher bay, pass gentleman on said Kona, Feel a moment of guilt, Meet Fi, Steptoe's chain falls off during climb out of fletcher's, Steptoe urges me on, ride with Fi for a time, point out spots ("under that tree") where I had a tantrum last year, feel surprisingly good, Fi pulls away, Catch Fi, Ford with Fi, Fi's bell malfunctions, Fi stops to schedule own tantrum, Ride on. Lament lack of back pockets in top, although it does make me feel "disco". Drop One Square Meal, Think about having tantrum, dont. Rode back nine by self, not passed by anyone, passed lots of others, watch goal time tick past, reflect that if course same last year would not have finished, feel better, feel great, dig it in, ride fast ( From Start to Fletcher 3.27. From Fletcher to Finish 2.00), Thoughts start to muddle, begin to relive Harry and His Bucket Episodes, "we have to go back, we have to find Stebby".
Pass same guy in same place as last year, finish, don't cry. want too, win hat, find GL. Marvel at her speed, Commiserate with Mr T. about collarbone and hand. Await Steptoe, hydrate, eat, try to phone Rebecca. Steptoe rolls in (well done that man), Get changed sort of, await Jez, ( Knocked the bastard off) Await Stebby, miss Stebby. See gentleman with cramp stop, shake his hand. Prize giving. We all fail to win, drink beer, have headache, go back to tidewater, eat rice, eat pasta,drink poweraide, neurophin, feel better, say goodbyes, drive home. get home. feel "like I have been pushed down a flight of stairs into a paddling pool of lactic acid". Hug rebecca, kiss rebecca, shower, food, bed. Lay awake twitchy and grinny.

March 9
Turn 31. eat bacon with parents, hang with Katie and E man, remain twitchy and grinny, hang with Rebs Thommo and Lola, Clean bike (It's EVERYWHERE) Lament amount of nooks and cranny on a full sus. Eat Burger Fuel (yuss!!) resolve to go for ride next day. plan other events for year in head. remain twitchy and grinny. Feel bike riding love for above riders. Resolve to win Lotto and take everyone to Belguim for Gin, Trombones and Cyclocross racing.


Since this weekend, I've enjoyed some sexy fun times at woodhill, and climbing up and down Scenic Drive ( No hill seems big enough at the mo, sure that will fade), Enjoyed some unsexy time at work, my four days of which passed in a blur of Methamphetamine, self harm, Emergency department assessments and women whose husbands had left them for other women. sigh. Began planning my Winter riding ( Can't bring myself to say the T word). Rode scenic drive again today, and will do tomorrow. Listened to The Dirtbombs and Black Mountain.
Pooled pocco and birthday money, and bought one of these. from here. Felt some relief that the Hardman wasn't on... Start thinking about the Whaka in October. check gear...