Last week I was back in Santa Fe. I've never bothered to rent a bike there because at 7,000 feet the altitude usually just makes me sleepy. But, still feeling my oats from my climbs up Mt. Lemmon, I decided to give it a shot.
The ride du jour was from our house up to the base of the Santa Fe Ski Basin, which rests at 10,000 feet. I rented a bike that fit well enough, the only real detriment being the extra 3-4 pounds it weighed (compared to mine) that I'd need to lug up the hill. But a 'heavy' bike would make a great excuse later for whatever ailed me during the ride. (Leg cramps? Heavy bike!) Every cloud has a silver lining.
The ride was 32 miles round-trip, with 4,664 feet of climbing, most of which was on the way up to the ski area. On the return there were only a couple of hills that I had to drag myself over. It was not the most difficult ride I have ever done (that honor remains with Col du Sabot in France), but it definitely falls in the "difficult" category. Because, you know, I had such a heavy bike.
I didn't take a camera. Some rides are too much of a slog to bother with pictures. This was one of them. So here's the only proof I have that I did it:
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| The Rental, aka Miss Piggy. |
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| Lungs don't fail me now |
Otherwise, it was the usual Santa Fe stuff:
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Cactus in bloom
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| Lunch at El Farol |
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| Lunch at a Chicago-style hot dog stand |
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| A "Chicago Dog" |
Then, it was back home to Portland, where cries of
IT'S JUNE IT'S JUNE JUNE STRAWBERRIES THE STRAWBERRIES ARE HERE could be heard all over the land.
In June, Oregon strawberries appear, and people go nuts. I admit they taste pretty damn good.
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| Oregon strawberries |
