Biking the Bottoms with My Electric Blue Bottoms

I ran 51 miles last week. Squeezing three long runs (the half marathon, an 18 miler, and my first taper long run of 11 miles) into the past 7 days was difficult, but didn't knock me on my butt as much as it usually does. Probably had something to do with the fact that most of October was pretty chill. So what did I want to do before I really start tapering? One mini binge. Give myself enough fatigue to really want that taper.

This summer, I've done a few commute bike rides and have paced Matt on his tempo runs. Nothing was more than 10 miles at once. So on Saturday night when I proposed a day-long bike trip through the coastal farmland, Matt thought I was joking. One last burst before I got serious about all that taper business.

Greek Yogurt Crepes for breakfast.

Matt and I set off from Loleta, a small farming community that holds a cheese factory and practically nothing else. The faint aroma of cheese permeated the air. It was a cloudless and windless day. While everyone else in the country mentions that fall is here and it is getting colder, here on the North Coast, this is the sunniest and warmest part of the year. And I wanted to take advantage of it while I could, taper or not.

Heading toward Ferndale, we crossed through the mini-community of Fernbridge. Basically a store, gas station, John Deere tractor dealer, and milk processing plant. The highway was busy with weekend visitors all wanting to check out the "Victorian Village of Ferndale". We turned off as quickly as we could and rode through farm fields. I enjoyed the familiar smells and sounds of farming. Matt told me a bunch of his farming stories. We chatted about the tractors, the animals, barns. Sometimes I think he really misses being a farmer (he had planned to do that after he finished college if I hadn't come along). But he really loves the job he has now, too. Someday we hope to have both: us working and living in a rural area where we can raise our own small collection of livestock and give him an excuse to buy a tractor. My man really loves tractors. He was pleased to learn (when I first met him) that one of my favorite toys as a kid was a tractor. Maybe that's how he knew I was the one? If I didn't have the physical limitations that I do, he probably could have talked me into farming (but just think how boring this blog would be if we were tied to our farm!?).

As we rode along in the sunshine just talking and enjoying the other's company, life was perfect. Getting out and exploring on a beautiful day. I had forgotten how much I liked riding my bike. Matt even loaned me his electric blue bike shorts for the occasion.

Sexy shorts, non?

After about 20 miles of riding around the rural farm roads, we were ready for lunch. We stopped at the Main Street Cafe in Ferndale for lunch. I had a turkey dinner (stuffing and cranberries between the bread, too!) sandwich and an iced mocha. I warned Matt that he better help me drink the mocha, because with two espresso shots, I would be wired and he would be sorry later if he wasn't caffeinated, too.
We rode out of town and toward the ocean. Not having explored the area at all before, we weren't sure what was out there. Only one way to find out though, right? Not so surprisingly, the road lead to the beach. Matt doesn't usually have Sundays off, so it was fun to watch the families go about their normal weekend activities. We could tell that the weather was particularly nice because people were all over the place.

Sheep in the yard and a barn, but palm trees? This is definitely not the type of farm I'm used to seeing!

Riding back to town, we decided to stop for ice cream. That's what life is all about right, exploring and eating, right? Right?! :)

Ferndale's Downtown Businesses

Matt made a new friend. Some guy came up to the grocery store and tied up his dog to the bench. He's just using you
for your ice cream, Honey!

We made it back to our car in Loleta after riding nearly 40 miles. It was a great day. I couldn't believe how easy it was for my legs to endure that much biking. Matt even commented on how my pace wasn't even "leisurely" at all. I guess that cardio fitness from running transfers to biking, too. My butt though, didn't enjoy it at all during those final few miles. Saddle sore, ouch. Not even close to my one-day bike mile PR (of 98 miles in 2004, coincidentally another ride I didn't really train for), but still a fabulous outing!

But one thing is for certain : I need to buy myself a pair of bike shorts, cuz biking rocks! :)