The Ride vs. the Rider

What a day, I kind of discounted the title of my last blog by calling it "Nappy". So I apollocreedigize. It was an epic ride. You can follow along with a Map if you would like. I arrived in Younville around 8am. It was kinda cold and misty. I parked at the Veterans home and saw a bunch of guys in eletric wheelcahirs with American Flags on the back. Kinda got my juices going. Yountville is a really nice town. Tons of shops and roadies on their bikes sippin their Java. I headed out to the Silverado trail which is the main-strip of wine tasting and bike tours. I turned left and headed towards Sage Canyon road. Enough of the flat stuff....head to the hills I say. The sun came out just as I hit the lake. I made a left turn on Chiles Pope Valley road. This was another canyon that puts the "Scenic Loop" in San Antonio to shame. It was sweet....and 15 miles of riding along a river grapes. I thought, not too many hills...this is nice. I finally got to Pope Vally and made a left on Howard hill road..(I think that is what it is called). I hit a wall. They call it "ink Grade". 3rd toughest climb in all the valley and it smacked me in the face. I said bring it....It now made sense all the days on San Felipe....I have prepared for this moment. After about an hour and close to 3000 ft of climbing...I made it to the top. Up and over into a Seventh-day adventist College town that looked over the valley and you could even see the Golden Gate bridge in the distance. The descent was crazy...but it felt good to get in some "free" miles. I came back to the floor and hit the Silverado trail. I headed back to the truck to re-charge and fill up the fluids. THen back on the trail to Napa city. All in all, 67 miles. Not too bad. I feel I might have gone longer....but that hill toasted my legs. Next week it's Hamilton...and I will be ready. I am debating on doing a long flat ride to stay on the bike some more because my back was not feeling too good after today. That seems to be my Kryptonite. A little late now to have discovered it....but every Superman has one. I would have enjoyed it more with Beecher or even Salty on my wheel....maybe someday....They will be on my wheel soon enough.....