T-MINUS 3 WEEKS TIL THE SEA OTTER CLASSIC

T-MINUS 3 WEEKS TIL THE SEA OTTER CLASSIC, a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

I love Donna with all my heart and want to be as supportive as possible when it comes to her ventures. With the Sea Otter Classic just under three weeks away, we decided to be a little more ambitious than usual and ride a 2.5 hour loop as opposed to a 1.25 hour loop, following a day of work on Tuesday.
Not far into the ride, I began to face the reality that I might not be able to be as supportive as I would like. I simply don't have it in me. My legs felt like concrete and I spent 2 of the 2.5 hours thinking about the sofa, television and food.
I'm worried that I'm starting to lose my love of mountain biking. I love the idea of it. I love being out all day on weekend days, but it's.... painful.
Hopefully it was just a bad night for me. No doubt it was a long day. We didn't start our ride until 6:30 which meant we got home shortly before 9pm, showered, had dinner around 9:15pm, and crashed on the sofa. Donna's eyes were fighting to stay open just 15 minutes after finishing dinner.
On the up side, we probably got the best night's sleep that we've had in weeks.

We've had more rain than usual and which is apparently making these guys very happy. I didn't bother counting but would be willing to bet we saw close to 100 of them over the course of the ride. Some seemed to have the sense to get out of our way. Others weren't so intelligent. I think we managed to dodge all except maybe one, which Donna feared she hit. I'm betting it jumped out of the way at the last minute.

We've had more rain than usual and which is apparently making these guys very happy. I didn't bother counting but would be willing to bet we saw close to 100 of them over the course of the ride. Some seemed to have the sense to get out of our way. Others , a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

As Donna can attest to, this was probably the only time I smiled during Tuesday night's ride.

As Donna can attest to, this was probably the only time I smiled during Tuesday night's ride., a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

By the time we got back home from the railfest, the skies had cleared, Donna took a nap (I have a photo but I'd be in trouble if I shared it), and we decided to go for an afternoon hike through Sycamore Canyon.

By the time we got back home from the railfest, the skies had cleared, Donna took a nap (I have a photo but I'd be in trouble if I shared it), and we decided to go for an afternoon hike through Sycamore Canyon., a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

We once again woke the rainy skies Sunday morning and decided to head to the Fillmore Railfest instead of the trails. By the time we got there the rain had stopped and we enjoyed a rather pleasant morning in Fillmore.

We once again woke the rainy skies Sunday morning and decided to head to the Fillmore Railfest instead of the trails. By the time we got there the rain had stopped and we enjoyed a rather pleasant morning in Fillmore., a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Between our work schedule and the weather, conditions have been less than optimal for Donna's training for the Sea Otter Classic. It likely won't be a podium year for her but I'm hoping she as least has a fun day on the race course and enjoys the thrill of crossing a finish line.

Between our work schedule and the weather, conditions have been less than optimal for Donna's training for the Sea Otter Classic. It likely won't be a podium year for her but I'm hoping she as least has a fun day on the race course and enjoys the thrill o a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

We got out early enough that we only had to kick on the lights for the last 10-15 minutes of our ride. The sunset was less than spectacular given the clouds that were moving in but it was beautiful nevertheless.

We got out early enough that we only had to kick on the lights for the last 10-15 minutes of our ride. The sunset was less than spectacular given the clouds that were moving in but it was beautiful nevertheless. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Got out for a great ride after work. We were worried the trails would be trashed following the weekend storm but it really wasn't all that bad.

Got out for a great ride after work. We were worried the trails would be trashed following the weekend storm but it really wasn't all that bad. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Time to kick on the lights

Time to kick on the lights a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Happiness is reaching the top of the day's climb, with the woman of your dreams.

Happiness is reaching the top of the day's climb, with the woman of your dreams. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Photos never do this trail justice - it's much steeper and grueling than it looks.

Photos never do this trail justice - it's much steeper and grueling than it looks. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

The ridge line above Newbury Park has to be the sweetest stretch of singletrack in Ventura County - tight, lush, rolling and windy.

The ridge line above Newbury Park has to be the sweetest stretch of singletrack in Ventura County - tight, lush, rolling and windy. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

This past season's rain washed a lot of dirt off the trails above Newbury Park, exposing a lot of rock, which has made the steep climb oh so enjoyable.

This past season's rain washed a lot of dirt off the trails above Newbury Park, exposing a lot of rock, which has made the steep climb oh so enjoyable. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

I poured a honey-stinger waffle with some peanut-butter into the gas tank last night. Donna dared to tackle the climb on an empty tank. Guess who had more fun?

I poured a honey-stinger waffle with some peanut-butter into the gas tank last night. Donna dared to tackle the climb on an empty tank. Guess who had more fun? a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Got out for another great ride after work last night. Sucking wind for 50 minutes and bombing downhill for 20 minutes really clears the head.

Got out for another great ride after work last night. Sucking wind for 50 minutes and bombing downhill for 20 minutes really clears the head. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

By time we started heading down the mountain, it was time to kick on the lights. The scenery is absolutely amazing at dusk. This is the loop I used to ride after work, by myself, and it was such a nice treat to be able to share it with Donna - I'm looking forward to a long spring, summer & fall of evening's like this.

By time we started heading down the mountain, it was time to kick on the lights. The scenery is absolutely amazing at dusk. This is the loop I used to ride after work, by myself, and it was such a nice treat to be able to share it with Donna - I'm looking a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Thanks to daylight savings time, we got to soak up a beautiful sunset tonight. The best part - no more of that getting-up-at-5:30am crap, to try to squeeze in a ride before work.

Thanks to daylight savings time, we got to soak up a beautiful sunset tonight. The best part - no more of that getting-up-at-5:30am crap, to try to squeeze in a ride before work. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Got out for the first of many post-work night rides tonight. It doesn't really count as a post-work ride for me since I had the day off today, but Donna got home from work and hopped right into her cycling gear.

Got out for the first of many post-work night rides tonight. It doesn't really count as a post-work ride for me since I had the day off today, but Donna got home from work and hopped right into her cycling gear. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

I love the singletrack above Westlake Village. Sweet stuff.

I love the singletrack above Westlake Village. Sweet stuff. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Donna (bottom left) preparing to tackle one of four climbs on today's ride.

Donna (bottom left) preparing to tackle one of four climbs on today's ride. a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

All smiles during Sunday's epic 4-hour ride. Sadly, I now consider four hours an 'epic.'

All smiles during Sunday's epic 4-hour ride. Sadly, I now consider four hours an 'epic.' a photo by BroAndDonna on Flickr.

Ray Meese
Visuals Editor

Ventura County Star | vcstar.com
550 Camarillo Center Drive | Camarillo, CA 93010

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