Change

 With the leaves changing, the seasons changing, the training changing, I decided to take a route that I had not yet taken, and on the the single speed CX bike to boot.   I headed south on the parkway, following the Liberty: Thursday night road ride route, winding through the fields, until I reached N Mills River rd, where I took a right to head into the woods.  Grinding down the pavement with a 39x19 was not too bad.  I set an easy spin and got to Wash Creek Rd and took a right to head up to Bent Creek Gap.  The climb was better than I thought it would be, it seems that my legs have finally come back from their post Stage Race vacation.  I was pleasantly surprised when a truck coming down the road stopped to let me by, then offer me some water.   Good people! 
At the top, I stopped to eat my homemade ride krispy treat that I had brought for this monumental moment.  I savored the sights; bright leaves, blue bird sky, perfect temps,  relished the smells; leaves, dirt, sun on skin.  Then I took a left and headed down hill.  It was a little sketchy, my brakes/hoods angles are not set up for dirt road decents....

 I made it to the bottom safely and considered taking a right on South Ridge Road, but decided to leave that for another day.  Instead I headed on down to Campground connector, past the lake and the up Hardtimes road back onto the parkway.  The parkway was crowded with leaf gazers, but everyone gave me plenty of room, which was really cool. 

40 miles later, I got back home, legs tired but feeling like they could keep going if I had a big sandwich to eat!  But I didn't, so I went home, had some leftovers and played with the kid.