Pink Chicks and Spooky Rides

This morning I planned to meet April to ride “Silk Sheets”– the name given to the rolling country hills southwest of Atlanta, popular among cyclists.  I know the route like the back of my hand, just no street names.  Since April is in the midst of her Ironman AZ training, she is happy to roam around on the bike as long as it’s time in the saddle. We wisely picked an obscure point on the course to meet (somewhere near a church and a 4way stop– that’s clear enough, right?) and an hour later I still couldn’t find her.   Shocking. 

“April, I’m near that old gas station by the 90-degree turn just where the road gets smooth,”I said on the celly.  Perfectly clear.  (What the hell did people do before cell phones?)

“Oh, I think we missed each other. I’m near the Baptist church by the hill. Just head back south.”   (Um, hills everywhere.  And this is the bible belt. Can you be more specific?!)

When we did finally meet, it’s a good thing were were on a two-way road, or I might have missed her. You see, April likes to dress in camouflage to really blend in with the natural surroundings. 

This photo doesn’t do her justice. She’s much more impressive with the BRIGHT pink arm warmers and BRIGHT pink jacket, which were unfortunately shed just prior to the photo opp. Also, it’s difficult to discern just how BRIGHT pink her shades are, as well as her pink barretts and ponytail holder.  For real. 

I was feeling slightly inferior in the Girly Department (that’s what you get for riding with the boys all the time, I guess). If I had lipstick in my bento box, I would’ve put it on at the next stop sign.  (Note to self: not a bad idea…)  I’m a gamer, what can I say. 

I reserve pink for my dog, Shaina.  She is like a stub-wagging (she has a stub, not a tail) advertisement for Pepto Bismol.  She loves it, though.  At least she hasn’t yet told me otherwise.  Here’s the little diva on Graduation Day (hers). 

But back to April.  It was great to finally meet up with her, because to be completely honest, it was little freaky out there by myself.  This is the kind of place that makes Halloween feel like Halloween. This is the real deal.  Old country homes, long driveways, roadkill everywhere, and old-school, fabulous Halloween scarecrows that totally gave me the spooks.  The day was overcast, gray, slightly chilly, and windy, with the trees blowing all over the place.  My overactive imagination (and bladder) had me in a big hurry to find April FAST.    April grew up out in “them there parts,” and found my eerie conjecture that we were riding through real-life haunted houses to be hilarious.  The girl has no fear.  I, on the other hand, am a total wuss.  I think the last time I went through a haunted house was 15yrs ago, and I peed my pants. 

The changing seasons is so beautiful here, albeit a bit spooky in some parts.  It’s refreshing– it really is.  The ride was awesome.  How appropriate, because April IS Awesome!  Ha- I love it! That girl is a beast on the bike and is working her ass off.  Literally.  At one point I was behind her and asked her where it went (her ass).  

SIDENOTE: Can you imagine two guys having that conversation? Funny.  

Anyway, I’m excited for her in AZ.   I kept her company for 62 miles, and, happy to not be training for Ironman, loaded my bike in my car while she kept on truckin’ for another 3 hours.  Phew.  That was plenty for me.  Everything south of my waist is a sore-pot today, thanks to the start of our Saturday morning strength sessions, followed by a hill-hammering bike ride yesterday.  I love it.  Another indication that the seasons are a changin’.