Ain't No Mountain High Enough

We enjoy biking around Maussane and around Eygalières and there are rides we do from each town.  We’d love to bike from one to the other but there are the pesky Alpilles in between and we’re not big on mountain climbing.   

Last year we worked our way up to the point where we finally made the ride from Maussane to Eygalières and back, with a long stop in between for a delicious lunch of rabbit with pommes dauphinoise.  So we decided we should get in shape to try again.

Finally, today was the day.  Conditions were perfect - sunny and clear, warm but not hot.  We fortified ourselves with a hearty breakfast (ok, I have a hearty breakfast every day) and set off for Maussane.

As we got ready to saddle up I decided the team needed a pep talk.  “Ok everybody”, I said, “gather round.”

Val looked at me like I was crazy.  I’m used to that.

“Listen people”, I said, “this is about focus.  We’ve all got to be on the same page – one team, one goal.  And you know what that goal is.”  

I looked meaningfully at Val.  She knew what I meant.

“Ok, let’s all put a hand in.”  Val reluctantly joined me.

Together we shouted, “One, Two, Three…LUNCH!”

We were ready.

It was easy at first but we had forgotten about the wind.  Sometimes it was at our backs but usually in our faces, especially on uphills.  Only grim determination carried us forward.  That and trail mix.

Val has been training so much that she’s now much better than me.  I would call her Lance Armstrong but she doesn’t do drugs.  Well, not that kind anyway.  

As the ride progressed Val would get further and further ahead.  My goal was to keep her within sight.  Or at least in the same zip code.  Periodically she would let me almost catch up, then go speeding off, kind of like Lucy with the football and me as Charlie Brown.

After what seemed like hours - at least to me - we made it to Eygalières.  The rabbit restaurant was closed so we decided to have lunch at our favorite crepe place.  We’ve been there so often they now shake our hands when we walk in.  We might be kissing each other soon.

After our usual crepe complète and espresso we were ready for the ride back.  I could have used a pep talk but Val was already halfway home by the time I struggled onto my bike.  

Luckily, the ride back was mostly downhill and the wind had died down.  Val looked fresh enough for another few laps while I was wishing I’d had a crepe au chocolat for strength.

KVS

Before

During

After