Challenging ride June 23

 After all the hills the day before yesterday, Nancy shortened our route by nine miles, which we hoped would eliminate some climbing.  It was a good decision, as it took us about six hours to ride 40 miles from St.Martins to St.John.  We had some long hills, particularly early in the ride, and totaled 2300 feet of climbing for the day.  But the real fun began when we entered a trail.  We knew it was primarily a hiking trail, but we had been on other segments which were rideable.  Not so the first stretch of this part.  We walked our bikes for about three-quarters of mile, through heavy gravel and up and down very steep hills.  Fortunately the remaining stretch was what we had expected, slow going but very rideable.  Then the route to our hotel involved pedestrian walkways and bridges that had on and off our bikes. We were a tired crew when we finally arrived at our destination.

An attractive old house on our way out of St, Martins. We saw several houses with this distinctive design, in various states of repair, in the area.

We have been seeing lilacs for three weeks.  We stopped for a break after a particularly wicked hill next to this late blooming variety. 

The trail started benignly, but the gravel was hiding just over this rise. 

Near the end of the trail was a mountain bike skills park with a repair shed in an old shipping container. 

After the trail we found a lunch spot at a park next to this lake. 

No guilt coconut cream pie to end the day