Today is Veterans Day. Having served in the Army Reserve, I know the pride that is felt in serving your community and country. It's not always fun. It's not always easy. But it is always worth it. A lot of people have sacrificed friendships, time with family, put their careers on hold, missed births of their own children, and many other things, including their lives for our freedom. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough. That being said, thank you! Thank you for putting country before self.
Today we had a break in the weather. At least it wasn't raining or snowing. But it was cold. I was still needing about 33 miles on my bike to complete the 112 miles needed for the Ironman. I decided to go for a ride that would exorcise my demons. The last couple of rides that I have taken to the Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain areas have not been without incidents. Either the back tire blowing out and needing to be replaced, or the three flat tires on the last ride.
Today's ride was almost perfect, almost. I recently purchased some cold weather riding gear and today it did it's job. At least the stuff I decided to wear. I thought I would be ok without my insulated shoe covers. I thought wrong. The first half of the ride was great. The climb towards Camp Williams has never been so easy. Usually the wind is in my face when I make that climb, not today. I blew right past the areas where I had my flat tires on the last ride. This was fun. No flats, demons exorcised.
After riding to Saratoga Springs, I turned West towards Cedar Fort. Seven miles later there is a road that turns South and goes into the city center of Eagle Mountain. Today was the first time that I have ridden this road. I found a new favorite stretch of road. Unfortunately, it was only about 5 miles long. It is a nice little country road out in the middle of the farmland, nothing but open fields on both sides. It had bike lanes, and very little traffic. I couldn't believe it. Was I dead? Was this heaven? It was a clean road, no little rocks covering the bike lanes, and with the wind at my back I was flying. One of those moments when everything is perfect. Although I was moving fast, it almost seemed like I was in slow motion and everything was still and quiet. I could have ridden forever. Then it ended.
I turned back towards the North, towards The Ranches of Eagle Mountain. I found out why I had been flying down the road so fast. Now I was riding into the wind, and I had to climb. It didn't take long to realise that I should have worn my shoe covers. That wind had my toes freezing in no time. As miserable as the wind was making things, it was a neat stretch of road. It was another 4 or 5 miles of open country to bike through to reach The Ranches. But along the road the city had positioned flags about every 1/4 mile. All of those flags flapping in the wind definitely created a feeling of patriotism. It was fun to ride for a few miles and think about some of my friends and experiences in the military.
Shortly after taking this picture, I passed the place where my rear tire blew out the last time. It was definitely more fun to ride this stretch of road, than to be pushing my bike through the rainstorm. Rear tire full of air and me riding my bike, demons exorcised.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. Only the wind got stronger, and my toes got colder. After 43 miles I was back at my truck, Ironman biking miles now complete.
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