Mountain Bike Ride (you are NOT gonna get me this time, Lance)

WOW!!!!! This was an amazing thing. Having had some pretty rough experiences biking (several big time crashes and just in general freak accidents) I was very hesitant to join the hardcore ride, so I chose to go recreational...I made it with no major (or minor) injuries to report. I had so much fun! First, I was shocked as what I thought were big white bushes started baaaaa'ing at me and I realized they were sheep...little different. Then, coming around a bend I saw real live cowboys- horses, chaps and all; they even said HOWDY :)

After having done spin class all through college, I have a new appreciation for rocks and hills. Climbing in gravel definitely has a different feel than a stationary spin bike- and let me tell you, they definitely take their toll on ya. After climbing the initial hill that was a pretty good little trek, we started goiong down hill until it finally flattened out (so far so good). Then came the LONGEST uphill of my life. It wasn't necessarily the steepness, but more of the length...it just kept going :) In the end it was totally worth it. Being on that side of the valley for the first time was awesome- SO PRETTY! And trying a new activity was pretty awesome- I definitely have a new appreciation for an activity that I had written off as something for elementary school kids to do after school.