Fall in State College...and a good ride

Here is the last ride I have done...cool...dry...fall colors beginning...if you don't have a cross bike, I feel bad for you...
We suffered a bit, hit some high speeds descending, wore out some legs
it was a good day!
good luck to the Ton in his race...
it really is fall...the shop goes to fall hours starting tomorrow!
dig the ride...2hrs 20min...we really went for it...

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Hmmmm

So-I looked up images of bobcats and nothing really looked right. Then I looked for images of eastern mountain lions...turns out that cat is a young mountain lion! How's that? A real mountain lion here in Centre County!
Things just keep getting better some days!

Big Cats in Happy Valley...really

This morning Jordyn showed up to ride off into the woods to Ebinsberg, PA and figured I should ride out with him for a bit before he fought the wind for the last 50 or so miles. It was cool and clear, the wind was in our faces, our bikes whistled along the corn and soy fields we find surrounding town. Today also marked the first home Penn State football game and the lack of traffic heading into town was welcome as most of the fans showed up on Friday. Our route took us on Whitehall road heading west. Lots of halls around these parts...Linden Hall, Pine Hall, Centre Hall...you get it. Whitehall shoots down the valley and green fields open up to showcase our ridge and valley system mountains. This morning was truly one for the story.
Our ride and chatting was interrupted as this dead animal flashed upward from the side of the road. At first we both thought it was some cheezy stuffed animal lost on it's way to tailgate before the game. At the same time we HAD to turn around and check it out. What we found was just what we never figured we would see here in central PA...it looks like a Bobcat, or some sort of big cat. There has been talk of the Nittany Mountain Lion being spotted in the past few months. Everyone wants to believe there are a few out there. What these images mean...I don't know. We saw it and got some quick shots, it wasn't there an hour and a half later (I checked on my way back!!!)
I really think there are larger cats out there and would have been much happier seeing it run in the distance and not have been hit and dead.
The paws looked good and were huge.
No ribs showing.
The coat was perfect and thick.
Teeth were white and clean.
It really looked in good health from what we could see.
I left buzzing with excitement and hope that there really are some out there...I also left sad knowing that this magnificent animal died.
Enjoy the images...all hail the iphone's crappy camera!!!

Bam! Bam!

Nothing like enjoying the last cool morning before the heat sets in for the next week...some time on the ride it hit us and just kept getting hotter...



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BAM!

Got a road bike when we moved back, for some reason I still get pulled into the forests to ride the gravel roads....
Anyway...check it...
it hurt a good bit and my bike is all dusty...
sweeeeet

Gretta gets her ride on!!!

Gretta is really getting into the whole riding in the forest and embracing the climbs...this ride took her deeper into the forest than ever...nice!
Keep it up lady!
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Pansy Lungs Loop

WARNING: mushy content within

Truth be told... I have pansy lungs. They've been giving me a fit since...well, as long as I can remember. Once upon a time and not so long ago, I was horribly embarrassed to walk up hill with anyone. Just the slightest exertion, and I would begin to sweat, turn red in the face, gasp for air. It was an absurd scene. I have asthma (yes, I realize even here as I write this that it sounds shameful), and I've always allowed it to act as a limitation on my life--doing anaerobic activities, avoiding anything aerobic tooth and nail. Little did I realize (thank you, wonderful husband of mine!!!) that pushing through that uncomfortableness...in small, smart, careful steps would help me to take charge of my lungs. And, now I can officially say, my lungs do not own me.

Today, I climbed (on my sweet machine) about 2800 vertical feet in less than two hours...and there was no gasping! Granted there was plenty of sweat and red in the face but NO gasping, panting, panicking. And, I actually (stand back, now) had...fun! Happily, this only verifies my intentions in getting a mountain bike. To have FUN! I didn't get a bike to become fast or "good." I just wanted to be out in the forest, and I gotta say, riding a bike up hill is soooooo way better than running, and I could go so far, see so much more of this beautiful forest in our backyard!

Here is what I named my Pansy Lung Loop...it is my beginning fire road loop that I am using to smack my lungs into good behavior. I must apologize to my running shoes here... sorry old friends... you may not see many days outside for a little while... at least until it snows enough that I can't make it out the forest. But, really, I mean, if you had a sweet machine like that...would you wear you? Really? I know it's harsh, but this isn't San Fran anymore.

The fireroads here aren't washed out in 3 feet deep ruts...nor are they stupidly straight up hill.

And, just look at that...it's a fireroad! Not even a "trail."  Just a road (with trees!) that takes you here, to this lookout:

And here, where it seems that magic can happen and it's entirely understandable why the forest becomes such a personal relationship that always seems to come across in people's discussions of these places:

And, just when it seems that it can't get any better...it has been. I've met some amazing women to ride with and had the incredible fortune to spend a lot of time with them in beautiful surroundings. Then, to boot, I have a partner who I trust and has encouraged me and helped me to extend beyond my comfort zone to find something that I truly, truly enjoy!