Squished the camel

So, another gorgeous weekend in Missouri has come and gone. Did I make good use of it…….I sure tried.

Saturday morning was a long run with my dog. I decided to try out the new Razor phone with I-tunes thinking that if anyone important needed to contact me I would not miss the call. Loaded it up with my current favorites, “Morphine” and “Garbage”. (wow - that sounds so unhealthy).

Yamina and I jumped in the car and drove out to Cosmo Park. As we made our way back to the trail head, we passed field upon field of kids playing soccer. And along the side of each field were doting parents with video cameras and what not, cheering them on. I wondered if this was the highlight of their day. I wondered if they lived for their kids. I wondered if they could run the length of the field if they had to. I wonder if they are happy. And if they are, what is the secret to it.

The run itself was uneventful. I took my time and just enjoyed the weather and the music. I did finally receive an all important phone call. It was my daughter wondering when I was coming to pick her up. I made time arrangements and smiled that the extremely overpriced phone had come in handy so it was not a total rip off. As we jogged past the creek, I stopped to give Yamina a break. She waded into the water and lay down and gave me a look that said “thanks, this is great, just what I wanted”. It is amazing how well dogs communicate with out ever uttering a word. She then stood up and lapped up a little water and then seemed ready to move on so we did. She is a very well behaved dog and I did not have her on a leash as the park law dictates she should be. On a few occasions, not having her on a leash has obviously scared people we ran past. These people are must be afraid of their own shadow as well since my dog looks as unthreatening as the Easter Bunny. I always wonder how a person can be so scared of an innocent little dog and do they really think that if she were a viscous attach dog I would let her run free. Really people…..have some sense.

After a shower, I loaded the “party” bike (Giant Iguana circa 1996) onto the car and drove down to Tryathletics. Where I planned to purchase a bike rack and have the nice boys at the shop (Nate and Matt) install it for me so I did not have to stress over doing so. All went according to plan and I now own a rear rack for strapping a cooler to and a much needed kick stand. Also, I plan on getting a nerdy basket to fully round out the experience.

For Dinner Saturday, the kids and I grilled chicken kabobs on the deck and I sipped some white wine. Had ice cream for desert………of course.

Sunday was allocated for mountain biking at Berryman. It has been almost exactly 5 years since I last rode the Berryman Trail. I would have been back sooner except I broke my foot and I have not always had a worthy and available companion to go with and I would not drive that far all by myself……….BORING.

Much to my amazement, I remembered how to get there and we were on the trail by 11 am. First wrong turn happened at a new sign (well it wasn’t there 5 years ago) just as we were starting. It said something about the Ozark Trail. We went left and I didn’t think it was right and sure enough the trail took us to the main road which I knew was not part of the trail we were supposed to be on. So, we headed back from where we came. About an hour later, we were back at the beginning of the trail. So, at noon, we started in the correct direction and I found the trail to be somewhat familiar. I recalled it was more technical at first yet most all of it is ride able, with the exception of about two climbs that seem pretty much impossible.

At the springs, which I think is about ¼ of the way, we took our first break and had a snack, stretched the legs and all. Then, we found the trail (choosing from many possible options) and continued on. As we biked through a couple of dry creek beds, I was being a bit pensive and I slowed at a very rocky section and started to fall. Somehow I clipped out on the left side, but fell to the right and ended up on the ground. Luckily, my camel back mule cushioned the blow for a soft landing.

Around now I started doubting our trail choice. James was pretty far in front of me and I had no way of signaling him to come back. Then another cyclist went zipping past me. I assumed he knew where he was going so I felt better that we were on the right trail. BUT, as I headed on up the trail, it just did not look right……….looks like double track……….should not be this wide. Now I was sure we were off the main trail, but I had no way to tell James and Erin (the KC boy that had passed me). So, I climbed up the darn fire road / double track to find them at the top waiting for me………….then I had to inform then that we needed to turn right back around and go down. Sometimes it is aggravating when people go off the front……..Ugh.

Back on the right trail, we continued our ride with our new friend Erin from Kansas. He was a pretty good rider and was keeping up with James handily. I on the other hand, felt it prudent to pace myself as I knew it was a long trail and I did not want to wear myself out too early in the game. Throughout the ride, I felt I was riding technically strong. I was tearing down the down hills and climbing at a steady, yet slow pace. On two more occasions, I managed to slow and encounter big rocks and start to fall. I clipped out on the left and fall to the right. I do not usually do this, so I don’t know what was up…….it was annoying, that is for sure. But, no big crashed ever happened, no blood was let.

Saw some people riding horse back and drinking bud lights……I was sick of water, yet rather thirsty. I contemplated swiping a beer as I rode past………..then decided they could catch me if they wanted………….horse would be faster than bike…………besides, Bud light was not worth getting beat up over.

When we got to the Brazil Creek Trailhead, (1/2 way approx) I decided I had had all the fun I could take and wanted to go back via the road. I recall that the rest of the trail is just tons and tons of climbing and not much fun to ride. I was not tired, just getting bored and hungry and not wanting to do a whole lot of work to get to my long lost beer that I had stashed in the car. At this point, I threw Erin a peanut butter sandwich that saved his life.

James opted to put in about 4 more miles of single track and met us back at the car. He, without me to slow him down, managed to get back to the car only 10 minutes behind us. We loaded up the bikes and changed out of our sweaty bike clothes. On the way home, we stopped in Steelville to purchase some more cold beer for the drive home. However, all we could find was Bud, Bud light, Bush and the likes……….nothing good. Settled for Bacardi Silver which still hit the spot. Back in Columbia, we got a slab of ribs from Buckingham’s to top off an almost perfect day.