Two Years!

While at home, Jeff and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary! It feels like we've known each other forever and like we've only first met at the same time :) 

Maddie...on her way to the Big Game.

 

Maddie :)

 

Alex heading out for the Big Game!

 

Home Sweet (Cold) Home!

I arrived home to a cold snap. But bad weather to a cyclist is prime for a hockey player! We took advantage of the frozen pond behind Val's childhood home to pull out the skates and shoot the puck around :). Alex and Maddie (in the foreground) proved to be incredibly mobile on this sketchy rink. Mike and Jeff impressed us with their speed and even more so with how quickly they could get up after wiping out! Val and I just tried to keep warm knowing there was a hot tub and a glass of wine waiting for us at home! 

One Last Climb before I leave!

In all my visits to this area, I'd never made that right hand turn off of Hwy 178 to the highest point in South Carolina - Sasafrass Mountain. And I'd have to say, it would take a double-dog dare to get me to do this climb again! :) After climbing about 10 km to this point, you then turn onto a narrow European-style road at Rocky Bottom. It starts out pleasant enough, but then the steep pitches begin! I was fortunate to have a "27", and even so, felt like I was climbing some of the pitches I climbed in the epic San Francisco race a couple of years ago. After about 6km you reach the gravel parking lot at the top of the climb. If you hike a bit, you can get to the very top. I'm sure there's a nice lookout there. I instead turned around and am a bit embarassed to say used my brakes a lot on the way back down :-)! It was a fantastic ride! 

Whitewater Falls

 

The View from Caesars Head

 

Oconee Nuclear Power Station

 

Table Rock, South Carolina

 

Some sights along the way...

 

They weren't kidding!

One of the houses in Pumpkintown displays some of the biggest pumpkins I've ever seen! 

Pumpkintown

No trip to South Carolina would be complete without a visit to Pumpkintown, just south of Table Rock State Park.  

The Dogs of South Carolina

Everyday we pass this house and, depending upon their mood, are either greeted or chased by one of the many dogs on this lawn. This dog is usually found sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch! :) Of all the places I've ridden, I've never encountered so many dogs ready for a good "race". Some want to speed past you, some want to run along side you, and some (usually the ones you don't hear until the last minute) want to eat you! It definately keeps you sharp! 

South Carolina :-)

After a very successful training camp in Asheville, Tara and I headed further south to Lake Keowee, South Carolina. This area is a mecca for Ontario cyclists. From now until late spring, the roads will be full of snowbirds on bikes!

There are many climbs to choose from in this area. From the infamous Caesars Head to Beech Gap which climbs to the Blue Ridge Parkway to my personal favourite, Hwy 178. It's nice to have some familiarity with the area. I'm pictured here near Whitewater Falls on Wiginton Rd. overlooking Lake Jocassee.

FAST!

 

And now we get to go down!

 

We made it!

 

And climbing!

 

Climbing!