Adventure Racing 5:43:34 [3] 53.06 km (6:29 / km) +500m 6:11 / km
WT Training day with STORM and Gally.
Started out near Cooper's Falls on the Black River, biked up a nice scenic road beside the river, then bushed the bikes and headed out for an AR-type trek.
Some good thick bush, swampy bits, waist-deep river crossings. Clouds of mosquitos flew up after us despite ample deet, and we all inhaled quite a few.
When we got in the open by swamps they were replaced by huge swarms of deerflies. Some of the fiercest bugs we've seen in a while, despite the perfect weather with sunshine and low humidity. We came across the Ganaraska trail at one point.
Gally's nav was solid, despite dicey features on the map, and we all chipped in.
Back to the bikes and away from the bugs, and down the road, but we found a great ATV trail. Followed it up the river for a bit, then back down the river, and up to a rocky shield plateu much like the Torrance Barrens. Really nice country, great AR riding!
I took an odd fall when my rear wheel slid out, and took a solid rock to the ribs which had me gasping for a bit. I was able to carry on, and we found a big field of wild strawberries. My rib was a bit sore, and hard to get a lot of air on the climbs.
We rode back to the car, but the guys had to dial it back on the climbs for the gimp. I called it a day at the van, while the lads carried on for a bit more until I caught them with the van,. Great training day.
Ribs are sore back home, and it'll be bad tomorrow. Grrrr.