"Ride-A-Lot" wrote in message
m...
I could not sleep at all on Saturday night. Don't know why, but I woke at
midnight and was up until six. After a two
hour catnap, I headed to the hills dead tired. I figured I would do a
climb up Chiney Gulch until I passed out.

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5726.jpg

It was brutally hot on Sunday morning. Already temps were in the 80's and
the sun was beating down on the exposed trail. I don't know if this climb
is worse than Belcher at White Ranch, but it sure seems like it.

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5727.jpg

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5728.jpg

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5729.jpg

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5730.jpg

Only 2.5 miles to the top but it is one of the steeper trails in the area
and I was already starting to feel the lack of sleep take its toll. I had
to stop a couple of times to ease the dizziness.

Finally, things level out a bit, but it's still uphill.

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5731.jpg

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5732.jpg

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5733.jpg

Once I get across the first saddle, there are a few trees for releif. It
was also a time to celebrate making all but one switchback on the way up.

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5734.jpg

After reaching windy saddle, I decided enough was enough.

http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/051307/IMG_5735.jpg

So, I watched the roadies flying down lookout mountain road dor a while,
turned the bike around, and bombed down as fast as I could on the OTB
Titus without the gloves that I left in my car (ouch). I have decided
that the Racer-X and I will be parting ways this summer. I am just too
far up front and it scares the crap out of me.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

I drove home from Ridgway (the mesa) Saturday morning....jacket and full
heat going in the truck at 5:15 cmt and ended up withh full ac at 12:15 pst
when I pulled into Phx. Hit 103 which was quite a shock from the previous
weekends 8" snowfall....

I haven't been on the bike in 3 weeks since I bruised (or cracked?) my ribs
in a not-so-spectacular endo, landing on my freaking cell phone. I had just
yelled at the other 5 riders that the drop was rideable.....well...it was
the previous weekend. That and snow for three days plus rain another three,
not to mention working 12+ hrs a day on my house in Ridgway.

I'm headed back up on the 21st. Hopefully I'll get to ride before then?

Nice photos by the way.

Gary (forgot to "get back")