lisa morgan

With a flurry of job vacancies opening up that suited me well it was time to leave the long, hot summer and make the trip south to where it's still cold, and very very wet!  But before I left I spent a few weekends out of Ottawa (where apparently it rained while I was away) heading south in to the US a couple more times to race under sunny blue skies.

Wildcat Epic 100

In it's first year of what will no doubt be many based on my experiences, the Wildcat Epic 100 is based in New Paltz, New York, about 500km south of Ottawa as the crow flys (but not as the Interstate drives).  This being my 3rd border crossing in a few months the interrogation was over much quicker than in the past - I'm beginning to feel like a local!

The Epic is a 2 day stage race of 50 miiles each day.  80km.  That's a pretty big day for me on the dirt but the terrain makes all the difference and there wasn't too much of technical which is what takes more time.

Day 1 consisted mostly of carriage way (gravel road) with a bit of XC ski trail riding thrown in.  It also included a fair amount of climbing, most of it all at once - around 2300m.  I hadn't paid any attention to course profiles so the amount of climbing all at once was a shock to me but the views on top of the ridge were spectactular.  We were treated to stunning scenery for most of the first day and able to split the distance up with well place feed stations.  We were however warned to keep an eye out for rattle snakes as apparently they like to sun themselves on the carriage way (who can blame them?).  I didn't see any and I could be wrong, but there were an awful lot of rattley noises that weren't just my hub while I was coasting.

Neutralised start

This was the gateway to the loop we rode on day 1 - I never even noticed on the way in!

Awosting falls - we rode around and up to the top for the view from up there too

Them thar hills - that's where we're going!  (It's worth it for the views)

Day 2 was much flatter but still had it's share of climbing.  It was an interesting course starting out flat with the neutralised start taking us on to the local rail trail for a few miles of flat before heading on to private farm land.  The owners of the land had cut tracks in to their land that we could use and had been riding round and round on a 4-wheeler to try and bed the tracks in.  It had sort of worked... but there were a lot of thick stalks threatening to pierce tyres, plenty of little apples on the ground in the apple orchard that felt like big marbles to ride over, and big pipes from the irrigation system that required a bit of bunny hopping to safely navigate.  It was unique riding for sure - after the fruit orchards we hit the vege patches - carrots to my right, pumpkins and potatoes to my left!

After that section we were back on to the rail trail in the opposite direction for a good 10 miles or so.  But any thought of settling in to a dirt TT position was thwarted by the numerous road crossings (sealed and dirt) we had to dismount for - good for practising the CX skills but rough on legs with over 100km in them already.  After we left the rail trail for the 2nd time we were on to some of the best riding of the whole 2 days - rocky, technical singletrack - but most were too knackered to really enjoy it.  The most unique section up this end of the course was the big cave we rode through.  The caves in the area were created by excavation of the rock that has been mined out of them and besides being a tad eerie, it offered a nice respite from the heat for a few seconds.

The last climbs of day 2 were nasty - short, but steep, and one was a hike-a-bike.  We finished of with just a few more miles heading back along the rail trail (wildlife count = chickens and a bounding deer) to the start where we were able to shower and enjoy a few snacks that were provided, along with a keg of blueberry beer for those who think it's ok to turn fruit in to beer.

All up the event was fantastic and though I was a fair way back from 1st I managed 2nd place with a handy gap over 3rd.

Day 2 - it 'rocked'.

Post -race bonding

There were a couple of Jamis riders who took out the mens race - they had time to take photos when they took an energy bar along on day 2 worth a look.

The weekend after this I tried to find a ride to a marathon event but couldn't.  My alternative was to accompany a friend to the final Canada Cup race in Bromont.  I didn't want to race it but was happy to go back after 2008 and ride the course.  First, it was dry.  Second, it's improved 10-fold and is now a really fun course.  The best improvement is the old opening climb is now a descent (the way it was designed) and I had a ton of fun doing that.  The technical stuff was still challenging in sections but being dry was 100% rideable and a lot of fun.  I enjoyed a couple of laps before giving in to the heat.  The next day I went for a roadie around the lake and surrounding towns to reminisce before meeting back up with Joanne to watch the elite race before her race.  Between Canadians and Kiwis I had plenty of cheering to do!

Vermont 30

It started out as a 6 hour on a 6 mile course, but these days the course is a tad over 9 miles because they keep building more awesome trails the organisers can't bear to leave out - and it's a good thing they don't because despite the long laps for a 6 hour, the trails here were super awesome!  Heading south once again but this time through a different border crossing (3 of the 4 US trips were through different crossings) and I was only asked one question 'where are you going' before being waved on through - I think they're even starting to like me!

The race was based in a very small town called Pittsfield, not far from a couple of popular ski resorts and near the southern border of Vermont.  Vermont is the smallest of the states that I've visited and compared to many it is tiny - I drove almost the length of it in a few hours (and in Vermont they stick to the speed limits!).  The New England area is very picturesque with a lot of rolling hills and a few high peaks, plenty of green.  I'd love to see it when the season changes but that will have to wait for another trip.

The race was a toughie - it was basically an up, along, down lap.  5+ miles of up, a few tough minutes in some super fun technical damp, rooty stuff once at the summit, then nearly 4 miles of one of the most wicked descents I've ever experienced.  They've gotten right in to building some of the sweetest berms I've ridden anywhere - big and high and just begging to be railed at pace despite the fatigue of the previous 5 1/2 miles.  After climbing for 45-50 minutes and working the bike for another 10 or so the reward is 20+ minutes of amazing descending.  By my 4th lap I was starting to hurt a lot on the climb - I've never been a fan of sustained climbing and in my untrained state this was really testing my limits.  Had the descent not been as awesome as it was it would have been hard to get motivated to keep heading out.  I knew this was my last race and I wanted to finish on a high so despite the fact I'd been gaining on 2nd and saw her heading out as I came in to finish my 4th lap I decided to pull the pin and finished up in 3rd.  The winning woman completed a massive 6 laps - one of the USA's top 100 mile racers (top 3 I was told).  They love the long distance stuff in that country - that could keep me busy for a while to come!

Le mans start - 1/4mile (400m), much of it uphill - wrong I tell you!

Bermy goodness

Farewell and a quick day trip to Montreal

During my final weekend in Ottawa I had a fantastic catch up out in the Byward Market with most of the amazing locals I'd met during my trip - rest assured I invited them all to come and visit, but I know I'll be back that way in the future too.

My last trip out of town was a quick one to meet a friend in Montreal - what a different place.  It's not like Quebec City, but not like anywhere else I've been in Canada either.  But pretty cool in it's own right, and loaded with parks, cafes and restaurants.  Despite it being my 3rd trip to Canada and having driven through and sat in the traffic at least half a dozen times in those trips I'd never ventured in to the city until now - a great catch up and nice way to finish off my last weekend of hot, sunny weather (probably until the next time I head to Canada!).

Back in NZland!

So I've been back a week and a half.  It was 41 degrees when I left Ottawa.  It's rained more often than not and my down jacket came out within 30 seconds of leaving the airport.  I was treated to airport to door luggage service which was quite nice (ie, my bags arrived on the next flight - all of them).  Given what I was charged for excess and a bike I think it's the least they could have done!

I've spent some time catching up with people but still lots to go, and this past weekend I was in Taupo supporting Jude in the 12 hour solo which she took out for the 3rd year running as a final warm up for solo world champs in Canberra in a few weeks (what, I have to get back on a plane???).  Was nice not being the only person fresh back from the northern summer and complaining about the wet and cold.

Idle hands are the devils tools and many will know I like to get up to a bit of mischief if I have the time, so it's lucky for any potential targets that the HR field is vacancy happy right now and I've been letting some organisations fight it out for my skills off the bike which will see me once more gainfully employed in a few days *sigh* - summer really is over.  Until then, I've been too lazy to put the Felt together so have not so sneakily stolen a SS to play on for a bit - I don't get the attraction so far, but I'll keep trying