fri 28 feb

Its a fri night. bugger the pub - fun to be had instead. (pub really dull when not drinking)
Drove up hill. Parked at tanks 3/4 way up.
On bike at around 7.30pm.
2 fellas on bmx bikes had just past while unloading bike so thought would catch them by top - easy as they were walking bikes.

Was pretty surprised at each corner not to see them on the following straight. By the top climb
I was pretty sure they must have either gotten onto a vehicle or headed down one of the side tracks. So I went up my preferred track - very steep where I was further surprised by not cleaning it. Its not easy but usually I can get it. I then remembered that this was the first time I had attempted it on Victoria in her current configuration.

More surprise to come.... At the top sitting on a wall having a rest - 2 bmx riders. Hard case and they must have ridden all that they could to get up that quick. (yes i know its possible that I am far slower than I think....but really??? not that slow...).

So a chat with them - a pair of 20something tattooed czech nationals - here for the apple picking and the riding of bmx on the peak it would seem.

They didn't have the best English but it was far better than my czech - if thats their language - ti's all french to me.

They had no idea of best way down and were trying to decide between middle ridge and mtb track down.
They did wish for the most scenic way down so the only solution was the goat track. I did warn them that there was a carry portion which involves a cliff. They were happy to proceed so off I lead.

They chose the  less steep track for the first part. I was in agreement - bmx brakes and not the best and they had street tires not knobs. They came down surprisingly fast and with decent control so i
I upped the pace a bit.

I did stop at the cliff part and warn them not to go over the edge there and then again for the carry part.

All way down into redwoods then the climb back up and out to the car park. I was trying to go slow for them as they were pushing and I doubt they were used to climbing that type of track. However when I slowed they speed up so in the end the pace that they set nearly killed them.

They were glad to be back to their vehicle and quite surprised that I was heading back up the hill.

Caught the kids and their mum - the kids had driven her up the wall. They can be like that - so I took over the being annoyed job and put them in the ute and drove them to the top where they were kicked out and told to head down and they would be collected further down the hill.

Quiet again nice.
further ride down hill and then back up the steep (previously not cleaned) track to regain my ability to at least be able to get up tracks that i could in the past.... clean - happy.

Into ute and off for dinner about 10pm.

By midnight the short ride had taken its toll. Was expecting a few laps of hill. So off for a run - in the rain as it happen. Most pleasant the rain (warm night). 1hr 20 running and gees my legs feel it. Will take a while to get running fit again.


So in all a big day.
tennis was good.
4am sleep.