Swooper

Morning Run Distance: Nil
Afternoon Run Distance: Nil
Average Pace:0:00
Other:Bike - Trail 31.05
Weekly Total: 00:00
Monthly Total: 00:00
Yearly Total: 2638:89
Running Calendar: Mt Majura Vineyard Three Peaks - Nov, Deep Space Mountain Marathon - Nov, Tour De Mountain - Dec, Two Fruits Boxing Day Invitational - Dec.

This morning I went for a long trail ride. It went something like this. Down to Pine Is as per my usual Sunday run. Double back behind the Hyperdome and follow the bike path along Athlon to Sulwood. Left along Sulwood to the base of Mt Taylor. Around the short side to join up with the track that goes back down to Athlon. Cross over to Farrer Ridge and home as if I were doing the Two Fruits loop.

Straight forward enough I hear you say. But no, there were other challenges along the way. Seven (count them) seperate magpie swoopings. All except one came from the top so there was no risk of damage. But one came from ground level and swooped up, catching me behind the ear several times. I'll be glad when their nesting season finishes.

But I've saved the best to last. At the beginning of the ride I had come around the back of Conder and went under the underpass that goes under Tharwa Drive. It seperates Conder and Gordon. Just as you go around the right hander there with his bike half over the path is some idiot taking a drink. I had to swerve to miss him. I turned to tell him to get off the path when I caught sight of something stretched across the path in front of me. The biggest brownie I have ever seen. At full stretch he was longer than the width of the path. I had too much speed to stop so I went around (the pointy end, probably not such a good idea) and then stopped to watch him go off into the grass.

So if you running stay away from the long grass and concentrate on what's ahead of you.