Today was certainly a long day- 2100 meters of climbing and 66 km of ruggid single track, dirt roads, paved roads, and hike-a-bike.

Within the first hour Jeff flatted his rear tIre. We tried to fix it with a quick shot from the air cartrIdge, but the tire was ripped a bit too much… he had to put a tube in and pump it up by hand.

Jeff’s next event today was just after the first aid station. We headed up our first long climb, zIg zaggIng along the narrow swItchbacks that would lead us to the summIt. With Jeff just ahead, I watched as he came to a stop and, without unclipping, tipped towards the downhill slope. It all happened so fast; he tumbled and launched head first into the dense shrubbery and grasses. It looked bad, real bad. The bike flew in one direction, landing about 15 feet below the trail (halfway to the switchback below).

I jumped off my bike and climbed my way down to Jeff. “Don’t move, I’m coming… I’m coming. Are you ok?” I asked nervously, knowing that this could be serious.

“I’m fine,” Jeff replied.

… But it just looked so bad. His feet were uphill, he was lying on his stomach, and hIs head was about 2 inches from a cooler sized rock. He had catapoulted the same distance as the bike, but landed about 10 feet from where it was.

I helped him to his feet. Everything looked good- becides the blood running down his elbow and finger (his “good” hand). It wasn’t until we arrived in camp that we noticed the new scratches on his legs and back.

The bike was fine once we pulled the chain out of his gears.

The ride was long. The rolling terrain seems to take more effort than the long climbs. The open fields… those are the worst! It seems that a fairly flat field would be a resting area- an easy pedal and a place to recover- but they continue to suck my energy. It’s slow going through the thick, soft grasses. We also had unridable sections of hike-a-bike. The constant pushIng and walkIng Is taxIng on our calves and arms.

The rocky summit of our second long climb, and some of its jagged decent were too rocky to rIde- although Jeff braved much more of the downhIll than I dId. We were faced wIth big sharp overlappIng spInes and bowling ball sized rocks.

We finished in 6th place after a 6 hour and 12 minute ride. Two teams have since dropped out. (Our patient from yesterday returned to camp this afternon with a crutch and some severe bruising… but she’s gonna make it!)

The afternoon was complete with another fantastic hour-long massage, good food, and some prepping for tomorrow’s chilly ride. (They’re calling for a high of 14 degrees Celcius, whIch we’ve been told Is In the high 50s. Plus… there wIll be raIn as we traverse the rIdgelIne. Burr.)

Time for some shut eye before our longest day, day 6. (Well… maybe beddies after a game of su do ku on the iPad.)

And one more peek at the last bit of light on the mountains. (Keep in mind it’s 10:15 pm. It stays light for awhile!)