Loop 18 Clockwise

Loop Map & More Info

I have been reading a lot of Dean Koontz lately and he has a really good opening sentence in his book, Dragon Tears. If I was to borrow it and use it here it would go something like this.

Wednesday was a fine Alabama day, full of sunshine and promise, until I had to go up the Blue Trail with 5 lb ankle weights on. Ok, so my misery was of my own making. I thought I should up the ante and make it a little harder on my self since I am supposed to be younger and in better shape than Richard. Where that hair brained idea came from I am not sure.

We went through the gate at the North Trailhead and immediately turned to the left and started up the first of four nasty hills on the first section of the Blue Trail. I'm sorry. Did I say hills? I meant to say small mountains. That first climb was a doozey. To make it worse there wasn't any small talk between Richard and I because neither one of us had any breath left with which to talk.

We made it to the top of the first one and Richard said, "Only three more to go." Now that made my day. NOT! We were able to jog very little and talk very little as we went across to the next small mountain and then there was no jogging or talking. Only walking and breathing.

In the 40 degree weather I quickly warmed up and came out of my jacket. I already had one less layer on top than I had the day before and I didn't have my gloves or my ear muffs on. It was still very hot.

We reached the red/blue connector and took about a 2 minute break to bring our breathing back into a semi normal state. We then proceeded down the red/blue connector. Oh how nice it was to be going down. The ankle weights did add a little extra to even that though.

We hit the red trail and hung a left back up to the yellow/red connector. We hung a right on it and avoided the same water holes and crossed the same streams that we had yesterday. They were still there. However this time we kept to the White Trail back to the North Trailhead instead of hanging a left on the cabins trail. The White Trail was a good little distance of jogging and the ankle weights were starting to take their toll. My thighs were beginning to burn and wanted to just shut down.

I tried to put it out of my mind and just focus on Richard running ahead of me. Once, I realized that I was lost in my own thoughts and in the process had slowed down. As a result Richard had gotten a little distance out front. I had to suck it up for a little bit and catch up.

Soon we came back out onto the CCC road and I could see my Jeep across the highway. It was a sight for exhausted thighs. And another loop was done.