The cold came back

It's here to stay for a bit. As I have written before. Not as cold as some, colder than others. 35 degrees at the start. Bright sun shine. Very little wind. Beautiful winter blue sky's. I'm ready for this chill. I found a new Nike jacket at Bikes Wholesale on the mainland. Wonderful fabric that breaths and is still water/wind proof. It was in my bag in no time. Fits like it was made for me. So my winter, cold weather gear is in hand. Bring it on. Do your worst. Well not to bad please.
The ride had an opportunity to be a long one. 4 plus hours of Island fun. All hills all the time. I was looking forward to the days events on the road. It was going to be a new course. Adding some roads I had not spent much time on. Lots more climbs. Now these are hills, steep hills in some areas. My steepomitor got a little stressed here and there. East Bay road, that turns into another road, have some nice walls. Real grunts to get up for this old guy. I could not wait to get to them. Beings that the ride was a 50+ mile day in the freezing weather in just 4 hours. My gear choice was modest. Small chainring all the way. Still some tall gears. So I was saving my over all energy to last the ride. Still feel that I had enough to walk at the end of the it.
I took the left hand turn out of our little housing area on to Bayview. One of the flatter areas to start on. Nice to warm up. About 2 mins out on the other side was a mob of 5 true believers. All lined up looking sharp and ready to take the day on as I was. It was a nice start to see this crew. I was going the other way and was sticking to my course. A quick wave and we were gone. Made me feel good that others were out to. This part of the Island has a hard core group of road riders. On down to HWY 525, left turn. This was a short run on a busy highway to get me to Freeland, a nice little commercial town right on a beautiful bay that has a great and hard road that leads out of town. East Bay Road runs along this bay for about 10 miles give or take and has several nice steep climbs. Hills, so there not so long. Long enough to take your wind and hurt your legs for a moment. So I was riding the relative flatter areas at a relaxed pace. Keeping some energy for the hard work coming. The hills of the day. The hills of East Bay Road start quickly. After about a mile and a half the first of what seems like 8 and half more miles of hills start. There all fairly hard then the really steep ones show up. Then the ones that you can't see show up and get really hard at the finishes. I was doing well with these. I was riding in a gear stiffer than normal for the climbs to add some needed strength. Great warmers going up. With my new winter gear the fast descents were not to cold. One of the descents has a wicked right hand turn. I took it at full speed. Never touched the breaks. The sign said "15 MPH". I hit that turn at 35. I could just see the turn ahead. I have been on this road in a car twice and on the bike once in a driving rain storm. So I was going through as fast as I could. I leaned the bike over on the dry pavement. I could feel the wheels give a bit. They were not so happy. I just kept my head and worked the line. My wheels had limits. I found there limits for sure. I got through the turn still upright. My heart was pounding like I just had finished a small climb. Man that was fun. I think I will go through these turns a little slower next time. Or loss 20 more pounds! So the zig was fast and the zag lead up another climb. The longest and hardest climb on this road. Steeper and steeper and then it keeps going for a bit. It was a fun climb. Then the long fast down hill that leads to more climbs. East Bay Road changes name around this area and I just do not remember the name. So East Bay leads into the town of Langley. More strong hills all the way. Till you get to the town sign. Then it's just a ride through a very small town. 2 main roads and a few side roads. It's on the small side. Maybe 1500 or less people. It also has the county Fair Grounds on the edge of town. Then your on the next road that keeps you on the course. It's Langley Road. I have ridden this road many times. So no surprises there. So I took a turn I normally don't. I turned on to Maxwellton Road that takes me up a shallow climb across HWY 525 still on Maxwellton. A nice newly paved super wide riding shoulder. Very nice. Maxwellton leads after a several miles to French road. A nice climb. About 1/3 of the way up this road come Bailey Road. Left turn to Bailey. This is a roller road. Kind of, more climb than roller the way I like to go. Then Bailey leads to Coultis Bay Road. Right turn, and on to the Chevron Station/store/beauty saloon/coffee shack/shade tree mechanic all in one small corner. It is a social center to, I think. There is a turn up hill off Coultis Bay Road on to ?? another road that goes up hill to a nasty road if one does not make the correct turn. Glendale Road leads to the funnel town of Glendale. Funnel, for it's all down hill to the town and then an up hill out of town that is just stupid steep. I'm just not sure how steep. I don't go there! After a nice hard climb the decent start to the town. Then there is a stop with a left or right. Right to Glendale. Left up hill to Deer Lake Road. Well it's all up hill for quite a bit. Then some rollers. Then a shortish down hill to Heggins Road. Right turn. Heggins is my favorite road. Just beautiful, quiet curving road going up hill. I often do this road twice it's such a nice climb and road. After This chunk of heaven your back on Deer Lake. Right turn. This leads to Deer Lake Road once again. Left turn off of Deer Lake Road, on to Deer Lake Road going a different direction. This leads up hill to Coultis Bay Road again. Left turn to go back to part of where I was, to go the other way on Bailey Road to find French Road and turn right to climb French road to the top. Left turn on to Coultis Bay Road again. By this time I'm looking at the clock. 2:15 and I need a full hour and 15 mins. Coultis Bay is a series of climbs a descents that lead back to Langley Road and Ken's Corner. Coultis Bay And Langley Road are the same road with changed names. Ken's Corner is a older mini mall with some other commercial stuff and a Whidbey Coffee drive through at the intersection of HWY 525. I ran out of water with Zipfizz in it 15 mins before I got to this point. Not so good. So I'm heading back to Langley. then heading back on East Bay Road. Then left turn up Lone Lake Road. A nice climb. Just steady all the way. With a nice decent to Andreson Road. Left turn. Andreson leads to Bayview that after a bit leads me home. I'm still warm. It's 37 degrees. I'm on the edge of a BONK. I have had no food or water for way to long. I'm running on fumes and not thinking so well. I have 5 miles to go. I'm more worried about the mileage and hours I have ridden than my current state of mind and body. Not very good thinking. That's the first sighs of a Bonk. Where the body just runs out of fuel, and water. I think I just made it home on memory. As I got home Mary Anne came out the door going to the market. Good timing. I had been out for 4 hours on the noise. 53 miles of hills. I was a little bonked, but home and not so cold. It was a great ride. I have some good winter gear. I'm ready for the snow. It's going to snow today.