Training Log Archive: kissy

I went for a ride this morning with Bob to check out a dirt road in the park that was supposed to eventually hook up with a trail in Buxton Woods. We rode on the road for a bit and found the trail. It was not singletrack, about the width of a car, and pretty sandy. We decided we would go until it got too sandy to pedal. We made it about 1/2 mile when we had to get off and walk. We were turning a curve, I was on the inside and Bob was on the outside, a little behind me. All of a sudden, he calls out, "Snake!" I turn to look and there, on the outside of the curve, about 3' away, was a coiled Eastern Diamondback, head up, mouth open, fangs bared.

Of course, I jumped about 5' in the air, danced my way down the trail a bit, and started to hyperventilate. And then I started to cry a little. The snake was not moving, and was between me and Bob. There was no way I was going back past the snake to get out. Bob offered to come and get me, but I wouldn't let him. And we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

Finally, I decided to go through the woods, with my bike, to get back to Bob, who warned me that there were probably more snakes *in* the woods. But I didn't care...they weren't coiled and ready to strike. Not yet, anyway. So, I fought my way through the scrub thicket, getting scratched by little holly bushes, being bit everywhere by mosquitoes, and looking out for more snakes. I made it through and *flew* back along the trail to the road, with every single stick looking like another snake. And that will be the last time I go on that trail!

C • Yikes! 3

Another ride on the Hatteras Lighthouse road. I did two loops, including all of the side roads. It was a good ride except for seeing two Eastern diamondback snakes. Luckily, they were both squashed. Well, luckily for me, not them.

I was still HOT! ;-)

I went for a morning run (well, really run/walk) on a section of the Mountains to Sea trail at Cape Hatteras. I've done this in past years, so I knew what to expect. It looks like the park is doing more with this trail, though. There is now parking at the trailhead, whereas before you had to park down the road a bit and run to the trailhead. And the mileage is now marked by little posts. It's always encouraging to see any park improvements anywhere.

The run was fine. It was pretty humid and oppressive, and I was really worried about mosquitoes, but they were pretty nonexistent...for awhile. I thought I'd go 30 minutes out and turnaround, but around 20 minutes out, when I was feeling really happy about the lack of bugs, I turned a curve in the trail and was attacked!! by mosquitoes and deerflies. I was dripping blood down my arms and legs and decided that 20 minutes out would be just fine, so I turned. I made it back in about 17 minutes, mainly due to trying to outrun the bugs.

I went for a bike ride around Cape Hatteras with my sister, Marit, and her husband, Bob. It was more of a test ride than anything else, and everything felt good. I iced my knee when we got back, more as a precautionary measure.

It was HOT!

C • HOT? 3