Hoppy Easter! (do easter bunnies eat cheese?)

Today I met up with my friends Melissa and Jose at Wilderness Park Trail for a ride.  Jose just bought a Specialized Hardrock Disc and he was naturally excited to get it on the trails for the first time!  Melissa has a hybrid, and since I planned to take it easy (for all of our sakes, them as beginners to the trails and myself as a beginner with the Eggbeaters) I thought her bike would do just fine for the main loop.  I was so excited!  I haven't been on a ride on the trail system down here without Brian yet, so I was all independent today :)  Plus I kind of got to play ride guide which was totally cool.  I will never win any orienteering awards, but I hope they had as much fun as I did anyway.  Last night  I got the bike strapped up to the car and my Camelbak filled and in the fridge long before I went to bed.  Woke up early and had coffee and oatmeal and hit the road!  I was early and got to lounge around the park area while facebook chatting on my phone.  Ah, nature!

When Melissa and Jose arrived they unloaded their bikes and I was a little worried because Melissa's hybrid has skinny little road tires.  I wasn't sure how she would handle on the bumpy rooty areas of the main trail, so I assured her that if at any time she felt uncomfortable, I was totally cool with doing the paved loop.  Well let me tell ya, sister friend rocked that bike!  I think if she got on a FS she would show me a run for my money, and we would have a blast.  

We set off thinking we would go 6 miles to the orange grove and turn around, completing 12 miles of good times.  When we got to trail marker #3 right at the beginning of our ride it was obvious that the controlled burn was very recently, like yesterday.  It was not smouldering, but you could still smell it.  The trail looked like another planet.  I said I wanted to stop and snap a pic on the way back.  Didn't happen.  We turned around at mile 6, but when we got back to around mile 4 again, VOILA there was a barricade in front of the trail we had just been on. 

We must have barely missed the park ranger who placed it there via the access road.  Only problem... he was already gone and we didn't know which direction was best to head on said access road, which is just a double track with virtually no landmarks.  We picked the correct way to get ourselves to the Trout Creek Loop, and then we decided the best thing to do was just take the trail back the opposite way.  Our 12 mile ride ended up being 19, and my friends were pooped!  I actually felt really good today.  We averaged 7.4 mph and Brian and I typically average 9, so today was a nice pace for me to get to enjoy some conversation and still work up a good sweat.  Melissa has a cardio trainer and it said she burned 782 calories, but I'm thinking maybe it was more because it was super hot and we were suh-weating. 

Mosquitoes weren't "too" bad today and we managed to snap a few shots at the Hillsborough River overlook. 

And leaving the River Overlook we saw 2 gators.  See if you can spot them :)

They weren't very large, one was maybe 5-6 feet and one was maybe 1.5 but it was still fun to see them out there in their happy place.  Would love to lug out the Pentax one of these days when the mosquitoes aren't so bad and snap some good shots of the birds in their habitat. There have been some gorgeous photo ops but the Epic 4G's camera doesn't cut it.

I napped during our awesome storm when I got home, and for dinner I'm enjoying some Thai take out (naturally).  Nam Sod, sub chicken for pork for a leaner choice, and a side of steamed veggies. 

So amazingly good.  I could eat it every day.  I've tried to make it at home and it is never the same.  I need to get friendly with a Thai chef and have them enlighten me.  Tonight the Thai place of choice is the one closest to home since I'm super lazy today.  Thanks Siam Thai for feeding me so well!  Love you XOXO

Better go to bed so I can see how the legs are feeling tomorrow.  Night!

I Got My Bike!!

I finally got my new upgrade MTB and was able to finally pick it up on Monday. It arrived at the store on Friday, but in was later in the afternoon and after I dropped off my pedals, so it was too late for me to get it on Friday.  Then I worked Saturday and Sunday, so by Monday I was drooling for my bike!  I couldn't wait until I got it out of the store to take a shot of it.

It is a hardtail, a Gary Fisher Trek Mamba WSD 2011.   It's a 29er (meaning it has 29" wheels as opposed to the 26" that I am used to riding). I decided after much discussion with the shop manager Manny and his cohort Brian to go with the 14 1/2" frame.  The WSD (Women Specific Design) frame is lilac and it is hot!  I debated over and over as to whether I wanted to have them install the eggbeater pedals when they put the bike together for me.  There are a lot of benefits to having the clipless style pedals vs straps, and I have heard from many riders that eggbeaters are the easiest to clip in and out of.  So I decided to go for it.  The point of upgrading the bike is to upgrade my riding style.  I'm trying something new with the tires so I don't want to stay archaic and keep my straps on my pedals.  Time to get all big girl and get the clipless.  

I got the bike at my favorite local bike shop CBE (Carrolwood Bicycle Emporium) and they helped me every step of the way. 

(source)

They are the shop that sold me my first Trek and also Brian's Trek.  They have done all our work on our bikes and they are all a great bunch of guys.   Very well informed and educated.  They all ride so they really understand what I'm talking about when I ask for advice on my riding style and fit me with a great bike.  They offer professionalism that is unparalleled at any bike shop we've checked out in the area.  They recently moved to a larger storefront next door as an upgrade to their shop, and they were having a "Store Opening" sale from Wednesday until Sunday.  I can't pass up a great sale, especially on something I know I will be buying in the next 3 months regardless.  So the Mamba is finally mine!  

The store owner (another Brian!!) set me up with all the adjustments I needed with the seat and handlebars.  Then he put me on the trainer (at my request) so I could practice with the pedals for a little while without worrying about crashing.  I didn't feel very comfortable with getting in, but I knew there was nothing to it but to do it, so off we were (Husband Brian and I) to Flatwoods Park.   

It was there that I got my first blood.  Yes, I crashed twice.  No surprise. I knew I would.  Honestly, I'm glad to have gotten it over with.  The first time I was pedaling through a large area of deep sand and didn't get low enough into my gears (which is a common problem for me).  It became too late for me to shift and I was no longer able to pedal anyway.  I was so focused on the shifting that I forgot about the clipping and me and the new bike went down on our left side.  The good thing is it was sand so it was super soft and I only received one bruise on my inner thigh from where the seat hit.  Bad thing is me and the brand new bike were completely covered in the sand.  Once I started pedaling again I decided to practice my new SRAM shifters a bit since they work differently than I am used to (I used to shifting with my thumb and forefinger, but this setup uses thumb to go in both directions).  I like it, it will just take a little getting used to.  Problem here is that the chain was covered in sand.  Like it went from black to white.  So naturally the chain fell off, and when we stopped to fix it we were swarmed by mosquitoes.  I've never seen anything like it in my entire life!  It was actually terrifying.  You could hear them all around you, like LOUD, BZZZZZZZZZZ, and I swear we could hardly see through them. We ran with the bikes for a few minutes and finally Brian started pedaling my bike with his hand, and by the grace of God the chain fell back into place.  This is the moment I knew that I would never have a problem clipping in ever again.  My feet fit right onto those pedals faster than you could say West Nile Virus, and off we went.  Right back to the car. Ugh.  We ended up crossing the road and the trail on the other side wasn't nearly as bad with the bugs (as long as you kept moving) so we got in a good 16 miles.  I loved the bike!!!  I was completely exhausted though.  I thought it was because of the short stem.  The WSD comes with a 60mm stem and I am used to a 100mm.  The soreness could just be growing pains from a new frame and tires and a completely new feel to the bike.  Or the pilates I did the day before (ouch!).  Either way, we took the bike back to CBE and since they are so awesome, they ordered me an 80mm stem and they will swap the parts out for no charge.  Score!   So we took the paved road back to the "Hole in the Fence" entrance and when we were riding across a bridge, we saw 5 wild boars in the distance.  Awesome!!!  I unclipped in anticipation of stopping to look (see, I'm catching on) and then I turned around and pedaled about 5 yards to the guardrail to watch the boars, and put my right foot up on the guardrail while still on my bike.  Apparently my left food had clicked back in when turning around because I went to put my left foot on the ground so I could get my camera, me and the bike went tumbling down on our left again.  This time it was on pavement and it hurt more than the sand, but I just pictured poor Brian's face as he watched the entire scenario go down, so I could not.stop.laughing.  I picked up my ego, wiped the blood off my road rash elbow, and went home.  My hip is bruised something awful, but it was so damn funny that I'm good with it.  Maybe next time I'll finally earn the jersey.

but this was a good start :)

St Patricks Day

Though I am a bartender by trade, I've been known to frequent both sides of the bar in my day - mostly in college - but being in the restaurant business it just sort of happens.  You've got to check out the competition and sample the goods so you know what's out there.  At least that's how I explained it away.  Wink:)  Now that I'm getting a tiny bit older it's just not as cool or fun as it used to be.  In fact, this past summer my Dr discovered that I have highly elevated liver enzymes and I am on watch for liver disease.  I had a CT Scan and MRI on the little organ and was cleared to wait 6 non drinking non Motrin taking months before the next bloodwork and MRI.  Since I still drank during that time I avoided the follow up in December.  It took a little longer than that to change the lifestyle, especially with the holidays - insert random longwinded excuse here.  About 10 months later I've finally kicked the habit.  Still one glass of red wine a day on some days (I don't want a heart attack, this is simply preventative...) but I'm off of abusing the sauce.  I've cut the dry martinis out of the diet plan, and the last time I got blood drawn at Garcia Weight Loss, my liver was A-Perfecto!  This is all a regression.  What I am here to talk about is that for St Pattys Day this year we skipped the crowded pubs and Irish whisky and opted for some good old fashioned play and exercise.  (I will add a quick note here that I am getting the next round of blood work done from my primary Doc next week so I will be updating afterwards on how the diet and weight loss has affected my liver and cholesterol and overall health). 
This year we went out on the trails!!  We decided to try a new trail and Croom sounded Irish enough for me!  So we set off after a good breakfast of omelettes with low fat jalepeno cheese and last nights chicken, paired with a delicious naval orange, and of course coffee and lots of water.
We filled up and checked the odometer.  Croom Trail was about a 50 mile drive from out house, and so very worth it.  It is a series of loops designated by different colors.  They are different lengths and they have shortcuts marked with green, and bailout points at certain mile markers.  We went to Parking Area #1 and planned to go to bailout point 12 miles on the blue trail.  I ended up being so tired from the climbs and the sand that I was ready to bail at 10 instead.  (the map says the bailouts are 8 and 12, but it has since changed to 10 and 12).  I'm used to doing a good 15 on the Wilderness Park Trail, but this 10 was 15x's more tiring.  Which equates to more awesome! 
                                 At the trail head there were facilities, flowers and fair warnings...

OK so I guess you can't really read the third pic.  It says "Attention you are entering a wildlife management area.  Hunting activity may be near the trail.  For your safety, we recommend trail users wear fluorescent orance.  Firearms and hunting are prohibited on trail".  Well ok then, duley noted.  I was already a little nervous because to get to the trail we took a dirt road that seemed to stretch for miles, which caused me to snap a pic and freak out that I couldn't upload it onto Facebook with the title "Deliverance" because I got no cell reception.  Which caused Brian to poke fun of me saying that I've lost the "country" part of me that I have from growing up in the Adirondack Park in New York.

The blue trail started off with a bang.  Brian fell off  his bike within 10 yards of starting!  (He'll kill me if he reads this, thankfully he'd rather burn his hand than read my blog ;) because he wasn't clipped in enough and didn't realize it starts off a little incline.  Toto, we are not in Tampa anymore.  There are like, actual hills here!  Here's a few shots I got from the trail.

Hmm.  These pics are taken from my phone, and they look great on my phone, but when I send them to email, save them to computer and upload onto Blogger they look like poo.  Any suggestions bloggers?  

We didn't run into many people on the trail (I think they were all at pubs like I would have been 15 years ago...who am I kidding, also 2 years ago...).  We did run into 3 really nice kids at mile 10 who invited us to ride with them to the next bailout, but I was D.U.N.   I had just taken a fall for no reason other than I was too exhausted to stay upright on the bike.  We read on the forums after that the trail is best after a hard rain.  Um, yes.  I can handle a little sand, in fact my quads welcome the workout sometimes, but this sand was like actual glue.  I had to walk through some of it.  Uphill.  In a blizzard.  With now shoes on.  OK, just kidding of course, but I swear I got to the point that if I saw another patch of sand I was going to actually kick and scream.  I want another go at those hills though, it was a wicked trail and I loved it.  The next time it rains and Brian and I are both not working, we are packing up the bikes and heading north yet again. 

Here's some after shots from the day.  If you look close you can see my awesome battle wound (i.e.dirt) on my chin, and here's Brian's much better looking knee.

On the drive home we stopped at another parking lot to the trail and went for a nice little nature walk.  I made Brian hold my hand and we found a cool tree to take my picture on, because, well, I'm a blogger now.  I need pictures :)

That will complete my recap for today. 

Let me go work on the glorious task of painting my floorboards in my house, and I will come back later with some food stuff.  In the meantime, I forgot to mention that Brian and I are now officially paid members of the Swamp Club and are super excited!  We are going to a workshop next week that teaches tips and tricks for MTB beginners.   We are definately more intermediate, but we do want to take the intermediate class and you should know all the beginner stuff already, so what can it hurt?  We are both off from work, it's free, and it will be a good chance to meet some club members.  Plus I'm hoping to score a sticker I can rock on my Corolla :)

Cheers! (holding up my cup of coffee, ggeez, it's only 9am people ;)

*Fun St Pattys Day/Bartender Fact.  Did you know that there are 2 ways to spell whiskey/whisky.  If the brown stuff is to be spelled whisky it was distilled in Scotland, Canada, Wales and Japan, and whiskey is distilled in Ireland and the US?

Biker Chicks (and Today) Rules/ed!

I'm pretty sleepy right now, but I had such a great day with the husband today, I want to get it down before I hit the sack.  Started out the morning catching up with one of Brian's best friends Darin since he stayed over last night while he was in town for a wedding the night before.   Another old good friend Steve was also in town for said wedding (Brian's ex girlfriend, I wasn't invited...sad face...)  so before the 2 had to check in at the airport we all met up and had  a nice lunch at J Alexanders.  I had a grilled boneless chicken breast and broccoli.  I forgot to order it without butter but when it came out I decided to go with it and just eat it anyway, after all - I've been doing very good on the diet and I am going to work it off today for sure.  It was SCRUMPTIOUS!  The full bright spears of broccoli were also really beautiful but since I was with the hubs and 3 of his guy friends I didn't want to embarrass him by being the crazy wife taking pictures of her broccoli at lunch :) 
The pastor who married Brian and I, Pastor Jon, also moonlights as a bartender at J's (for the past 11 years) so it was so great to see him again also!  When he asked how married life is for Brian and I we could honestly say we are happier now in our second year than we were the first year, it just keeps getting better! 
After lunch we said goodbye to Darin and Steve as they both had separate flights to catch and we headed home to load up the bikes. 
Here is a map of the trails, then I will talk about our awesome ride.

The first few times we went there prior to today we started off at marker 4 of the main trail.  We'd then go to 20 and then explore different trails on our way back.  Today we started at 44.  I wanted to take the main trail for an hour, then turn around and do an hour back.  So we worked our way backwards to 28, then turned around and went back to our car at 44.  An hour there, 40 minutes back.  I'm faster once I'm backtracking and know kind of what's ahead.  Then we did a cool down through the nature trail to get the odometer to an even 15 miles.  It was such an awesome day!  It was so fun to spend some time with Brian not talking about work.  Like, awesome!  Next trip we are going to do the entire main trail!  I imagine we will probably take from 3-5 hours doing it, so we will pack snacks.  Our camelback mule things for water will be here on Wednesday, yay!!  We have been trying to support our local bike shops by getting all our needs locally, but he found such a great deal on the camelbacks that we couldn't help it.  Since we over spent so much by buying the helmets locally, I felt much less guilty doing the online thing in this case.
One of my most excited moments was when we pedaled through a wild orange grove at mile 6 on our way out, so after we turned around I had to stop for a pic on the way back!  Here you go, FYE :)

On the drive home we stopped at the bike store on Fletcher (I can't remember what it is called?) so Brian could get some gloves, and I picked up the most delicious Cliff bar ever for some post workout protein.  And I took a picture of it!!

Since you can't see the small print below the name "Peanut Toffee Buzz", it says "contains green tea, a natural source of caffeine.  Score!!!  I also picked up a different flavor, "Maple Nut" for another day.  It will remind me of home because I hail from the maple syrup capitol of the world, yes that's right, the world. 

One more picture!!  On the way there we stopped at CVS because I needed some girl stuff, and I found a deal on this new zero calorie Powerade.  It was 4 for 5, with $1 off with purchase of 3, so they were $1 ea.  They are delish!  All the electrolytes with no sugar.  I usually have no problem loving  my water, but this sure was a nice treat ;)

SO when I got home I finally switched the night stands in my bedroom to make more function.  Hopefully now putting away folded clothes will possibly happen more.  I am so accomplished now!  I would probably have taken a pic of them but Brian snuck in and fell asleep in the bed so I'm letting him sleep, he got up much earlier than I did today and he let me sleep in. :)  but now I must join him!  Thanks for reading!!