july 7 2011

 
stage 5 completed, lying in the tent in squamish typing on the blackberry (listening to the raindrops) since i really want to update the blog but know i need the rest if im going to be happy with my performance over the next two days.

each of the stages have been very different and very demanding, each building in the amount of climbing. the technical level here is way beyond anything ive ridden in ontario and the scale is remarkable, the continuous rooty singletrack, the amazing single track descents with bridge after bridge, yes, i did ride some of them.. we've had three stages that were loops and two point to point days, that has brought us from the sunshine coast now over to squamish on the mainland and three ferry rides along the way..

the food has been delicious and plentiful, ive been arguing that calories off the bike can compensate for the lack on intake on the trail, you should see my piled high plates, - its just been so busy that eating the bars has been diffucult, today i did stop at the aid stations and tried to eat but you lose a few minutes but more importantly you lose momentum, but i do beieve its a lost argument: im just wrong. i need to eat more on the move.

today i was just unable to go very fast, the uphill was forever and to be honest, so was the downhill, it was just a hard day...we missed the early ferry, so ended up waiting in the rain for the second...though we did get to camp just in time for tent set up and dinner so its 'all good'- tummy full, legs stretched and some optmism about tomorrow.

ride on!

melinda