Story
Squirrel!
I am awed by those who run these courses fast. I really enjoyed reading Patrick Milano’s @patrickmilano posts for this course and the Town & Gown Up & Down. It was interesting to read how he prepped before starting, and the training discipline behind it is certainly impressive. My story is quite different.
Patrick could have lapped me at least once on my Triple Hump loop.
My first dog was an old mutt named Rebel. We lived in a creek valley with steep wooded hills on one side and open meadows on the other. Rebel and I would go on random adventures exploring this territory. I’m sure we never got more than a mile from the house but it felt much farther to 7 year old me. I’m in my 60s now and not much has changed, except I don’t have a dog. Instead, the dog runs within me and my running style favors a dog distracted by a squirrel… and Triple Hump is full of ‘squirrels’! Further, while I don’t slow to sniff every few feet and don’t pee on everything…okay, an enlarged prostate necessitates the latter every mile or so if I am staying hydrated…, I do stop frequently to take pictures or go look at things.
I found over 16 different types of wildflowers along the road, to go along with the numerous yard flowers.
There were many birds, including several yellow finches (?) flying and chirping on the climb up Hump 1 and around the intersection of Mineah and Ringwood roads. There were future trails to explore in Frost Ravine Natural Area, Ringwood Pond Natural Area, and the gravel road to the radio towers at the top of Hump 2. There was a turtle nest with several egg shells alongside the road after the turn onto Ringwood, millipedes, a propane tank mailbox, an observatory, some old abandoned buildings in the woods, and the second most creative repurposing of old bicycle tubes I’ve seen:
(First place goes to bicycle tube suspenders.)
A very cool stone house on Mineah is followed by the prettiest yard and cottages two houses farther down the course; the owners were out tending to the flowers and plants, and my compliments on the results of their effort drew big smiles.
I did take one small detour to find the stone car. Very cool!
This is close to being my favorite course of this year’s challenge, but it is definitely the most interesting! The humps aren’t really that bad. Hump 2 has a bit of stutter to it, as there is a ‘flat’ section in the middle. Upon reaching the summit of Hump 2, be sure to turn around and savor the view!
Next up: Town & Gown Up & Down!