Sala- meandering ?

March 29 ride Rain soaking, creature catching and metal salvaging ride.  Goal was to ride a long slow ride up to Saluda and get a 60 plus mile ride in March. Rain was scattered about and T storms possible. So I headed for them of course. 100 percent humidity.  12:50 pm leave apartment (after much prep) on 45 lb Trek touring bike. Rain bike and loaded touring bike. Rear panniers lightly loaded. I recently added a longer mudflap to my front fender that comes about 1-1/2 inches from the floor. It is almost 5 inches wide there so hardly any tire spray hits the drivetrain or my shoes.   Stormy skies, but dry at first. I expected to ride alot in the rain. I wore my winter helmet. One with all the vents taped over so almost no air or water could leak in. Winter shoes, knee warmers, arm warmers. It was 60 degrees or more, but being wet would chill me.  1:30 pm. Willis #3 gas station at SC 253. Rain had started so I took off my yellow vest and put on rain jacket and florescent reflective vest.  1:50 Tigerville. Rain stopped. Slower than normal, but making pretty good time. Took Dividing Waters Road past "machine gun Sam's" place. Passed a snail and went back to look at it. It retreated into it's shell when I tapped on it. I threw it off the road to save it. 2:20 start watershed climb -  Started seeing small creatures on the road. Had seen them several years ago too and didn't know what they were. I researched and found them to be eastern newts. Small red or brown/red salamander. Most of them were dead. Run over by cars. Stop to get a close look at a live one. It barely moved like it was in a stupor. Flicked several off into the roadside leaves. Kept going realizing I can't save them all. Saw a large (3-4 inch) bright red one and saved it. As I rode I realized they were a lot more (although mostly dead) of them than before so their range is expanding. Saw them right up to the state line.  3:10 at state line stop and walk up to Palmetto Trail sign and read it. A hiking only trail with a 9 mile section shown in detail. It was raining moderately now.  3:30 got to picnic shelter in Saluda. One of my favorite spots in the world. I was getting chilly now so I got out the yellow vest and zipped sleeves onto it. Got out a head warmer for under the helmet.  Put on nitriles gloves (think latex gloves) for under my full finger bike gloves. Go to the bathroom and (surprise!) it is heated. I wanted to stay in there. Wish i would have stayed in there that whole time. I got warmed up a bit, but had to get back on the road.  3:55 leave Saluda. The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to shine thru the clouds.  4:15 SC state line.  All I needed was 20 minutes of no rain to get down the 6 mile escarpment, but near the bottom the rain restarted.  4:33 Callahan Mt rd I decided to punish myself with this steep road. The beauty and tranquility of this road is appealing. I climbed past the old Poinsett bridge and was in my lowest gear (28x32). I needed it and lower. A 10 foot piece of copper wire lay across the road so i got it and put it on the roadside. I strongly thought about keeping it.  As I descended Callahan Mt I had to squeeze the brakes hard as it was very steep and the rims were wet. Found a no trespassing sign on roadway and took it with me. Sheet aluminum is handy to have.  In a few miles I came to SC 11 and Perdue fruit market. A state trooper and a wrecker were there. Oil slicks and pieces of cars all over the road.  Big wreck was being cleared up. People standing around.  This is a remote area so a unusual sight.  5:15 Tigerville - the sun was out, but in the rearview mirror it was very dark clouds. Had to stop and stretch but needed to keep running away from the dark clouds.  5:35ish past Willis 3 gas station and stayed on SC 253. Saw big hunk of wire on road - went back to look it &  it was a nearly 1 inch diameter and 3 foot long piece of aluminum cable for high electrical flow. I took it with me. Right before Sandy Flat I spotted a license plate that expires in 2015. I took it with me. I was going to the DMV soon anyway. A few miles from home a light rain started up just a few minutes.  6:26 got to apt So I was out there over 5-1/2 hours when I have done the ride in ideal conditions in less than 3-1/2 hours. This ride connecting with nature helped relieve some of the stress from work.   A ride perhaps more typical in Portlandia or the great northwest. I enjoy those warm yet rainy rides for the ambiance it gives to a slow ride. Going up the wooded watershed - it was like a tropical rainforest. 

Late-mid March: ramping up

Mid late march Been riding on the road more and have done 30, 40 and 49 mile rides. Registered for Miracle Hill cycling challenge century so I need to keep ramping up for that.  Progressing on my running and swimming too.  Striving for a year above 500 miles of running so 10 miles a week is needed. Behind average now so trying to get the runs in. Last week only 6 miles but this week will have 18. Less treadmill runs as the weather improves. Have to be careful to avoid injuries. A long run might happen but 6 miles is the most so far.  Had a 3300 yard (2 mile) swim recently. Happy I'm able to do it yet sad my left elbow that I broke still has limited range of motion and pain.  Said no to Parris Island Tri and Reedy River 10k/5k recently but still looking and staying flexible for a last minute decision type race. A cheap local 5k would be great.