Poetic clouds

We’re halfway the ride. Today, after 25 miles (40 km) we crossed the halfway to LA signs, although my bike computer told me we have already cycled 295 miles (472 km). And I do believe my bike computer. So someone is actually lying. Fortunately I know why. The fake halfway point is located at the top of the so called Evil Twins, the highest  hills we climb during the ride. If the exact halfway point would be applied it would probably be somewhere at the foot or at one quarter of the Evil Twins and I think everybody agrees with me that would be a real bummer. What kind of a halfway point is that?

Today was a tough titties day. First of all the Evil Twins were to be conquered. Then there was the downhill and believe me, that’s a really nasty one. I remembered from last year’s ride this hill scared the hell out of me. I couldn’t quite remember why, but once I was there it suddenly hit me again. The downhill is so steep the average speed is probably (I didn’t dare to look at my bike computer) 37 miles (60 km) per hour. Besides there are unexpected and at times heavy side winds. Thank god I made it but because of the numerous shots of adrenaline that went through my body during the downhill ride I was exhausted once I reached the lunch stop. I seemed to be heading for a true Murphy’s Law day when exactly 2 minutes after the lunch stop I got a flat tire. Luckily my father is an amateur bike mechanic so he showed me the ropes. Hence changing a flat tire is a piece of cake for me. My pump wasn’t really helpful however. But there was Nathan, a fellow rider. He gave my tire a shot of oxygen and within seconds my tire was as hard as a rock. Moreover he put my wheel back in place with such grace and assuredness I like to think of him as my hero of the day.
Ok, where was I? Yes, after the flat tire things seemed to go smoothly until we arrived at that devilish turn heading for rest stop 3. Just for those of you who don’t know the ride. Every day there are four rest stops and a lunch stop. All stops are run by volunteers who do their utmost not only to feed and nourish us, they also provide entertainment. At one rest stop Sesame Street’s Yellow Bird hands you a banana, at the next rest stop Santa Clausina refills your water bottle. Anyway let’s return to the devilish turn. I think it is the most underestimated part of the ride. There are rolling hills which seem to go up when they actually go down. And when they seem to go down, they actually go up. In short, what you have to deal with here is a true tromp l’oeil.

The story isn’t quite finished yet. After the rolling hills an extremely heavy side wind kicked in. The riders who were in front of me were in a diagonal position, which looked rather silly since everything else – the trucks, the electricity poles – kept their vertical position. It was as if some unknown force changed the rules of gravity. The side wind was accompanied by clouds of dust. It made me look like a dirty pig. Nevertheless it was quite a pretty sight: on both sides of the road there were vast stretches of land, dominated by brown and green colors and as if fifty people were thoroughly wiping their floors a transparent cloud of light brown dust covered both the road and the land.
Conclusion: was it a bad day? No. Partly because I overcame my exhaustion, partly because I beat Murphy’s Law, and partly because of all the nice people I met today. There’s no day like a Nathan’s Day!

Comments

[Donald Wilson]

Hey Bart, well congrats on the Half Way and a then some spot. I hope Gunnar the strong is being good to you. I so love your descritions it feels as if I am on the ride with!
Donald

[Thijs]

welterusten!