Attempt
number two at completing the
Hills are Alive started ominously with a steady drizzle as I left home
for the
Vic West start. The
rain stopped by the
time the ride began, fooling all of four of us into proceeding. I was determined not to
make last year’s
mistake of hammering the first fifty kilometers, only to pay for it by
DNFing. By the time
we were around the
harbor a light drizzle had started and accompanied us as we made our
way along the waterfront
to Mount Doug. The
pace was relaxed as
we all rode together and got reacquainted.
The weather improved as we headed to Sidney, Jim Fidler
and Nigel Aspinal picking up
the pace with the lure of the blue patches of sky.
We all came together at Control # 1,
where bananas and muffins were offered by Mark Ford.
This would be the last I would see of Jim and Nigel until
just before
dark as I entered Sooke.
The
weather stayed cool, but dry, as
the peninsula slipped away and the climbs in the highlands began. When I arrived at the
Millstream gas station (control # 2),
Mike and Steven Croy were already waiting for Brynne Croy. Mike advised me she had
fallen back a bit by
the time I passed them (Mike & Steven) playing on the beach
near the airport. As
I pulled away a light
drizzle decided to
accompany me to the highway, only to dry up then return part way up the
Malahat. The summit
was dry(ish), the
weather gods toying with my determination.
Once I had my speed up, going down the North Slope, the
clouds unloaded
what felt like sleet stinging my cheeks.
On the approach to the Mill Bay turnoff I cursed my luck
convinced the
dark clouds over the Cowichan Valley meant more of the same for the
next
hour. Contemplating
a ferry ride home
via Brentwood, I decided sit out the weather in Mill Bay with a hot
bowl of
soup. With that the
weather cleared and
a few hundred meters past the ferry dock was the secret control
complete with Mark, Mikael Jansson, Mike, Brynne
and Steven. Brynne
informed me she had been overcome by a
bout of common sense and that now third place was mine for the taking. The gauntlet firmly
dropped, the sun peaking
from behind the clouds, I let my testosterone levels rise up and throw
out
anything looking vaguely like common sense.
The
soup stop was put off to Hillary's
in Cowichan Bay, only to arrive as the last bowl was sold in front of
me. After a
waterside picnic that depleted my
stores of munchies, plan C became Timmy's chicken noodle at control # 3. As I turned up Lakes road
the distinct sound
of a dry chain began its rhythmical nagging. EXPERIANCE CYCLING
in Duncan came
to my aid. I walked
in asking to
purchase some chain oil and borrow a rag.
Upon hearing I was doing "the Hills", the mechanic offered
to
oil the chain gratis, mentioning "Graham Fishlock" in passing. After stocking up on
snickers and poweraide,
I was happy to discover a tailwind would accompany me along the
Shawnigan
portion of the ride. Dave
MacMurchie had
accompanied me last year on the climb up from the lake, advising me of
the
number of "steppes" to reach the highway.
Good advice then, better advice today as the
weather was taking its toll on my determination.
The
rain started in earnest as I began
my descent of the South slope, only long enough to chill my hands so
that when
it came time to turn towards Sooke I would be looking for the common
sense that
I left on the roadside in Mill Bay.
As I
was searching, Brynne's words came back, "...you have to at least go
further than last year." What
were
my options? A bus
should I breakdown, my
cousins should I burn out. The
ride
through Humpback was what I needed to rejuvenate my spirits; the forest
embraced
me as I spun along. Alas
Sooke road
shattered the moment, but at least the rain held off and it was still
light. This was
important as Melissa had informed me the battery for the light I
borrowed would
only last 2 to 2 1/2 hours and my target of finishing by 9 PM was off
by at
least that. Restocking
at the store
before Sooke River Bridge I realized just how far off when the clerk
informed
me they would soon be closed at 8 PM.
The
short term goal was to get to the
Kemp Lake Road turnoff while I could still see the sign. Having been warned of the
hassle of missing
the turn and aware of the battery time crunch I was concerned. As luck would have it I
flatted on a staple
on Golledge. Checking
my watch I decided
this would not be "busride" mechanical DNF.
A quick change and I was back spinning along.
The
distance countdown started when I turned on
Otterpoint Road. The
light faded in the
last kilometer to the Kemp Lake turnoff, but my night vision had
adjusted and I
headed down to #14 without aid from my headlight.
The plan would be to save battery wherever I
could and in this light the run down Kemp Lake Road was doable. Signed off at the cafe for
Control # 4, I was
determined to complete. Forgetting
to
top up fluids at the cafe posed a small problem as I found out Sooke
rolls up
the streets after 9 PM.
Having cycled Gillespe, East Sooke, etc. many times before in the daylight I devised a plan to use my MEC blinky to highlight the shoulder line while climbing, then to use the headlamp for the flats and down hills. Taillights worked fine so they were no trouble. This worked extremely well giving me an eerie ride through Metchosin, while still being able to make time that was quickly becoming valuable. Ironically, at one point a woman pulled up beside me, in her car, demanding directions as she was lost trying to find her way to Victoria. The weather gods were laughing too hard at my lighting predicament to bother with rain. Lagoon road made for a wild ride down to the beach where the light from the city allowed blinky riding on Ocean Boulevard. I was truly enjoying the night ride. Crossing the bridge required lighting as did the spin down the last hill to the Island Highway. Turning onto the Island Highway there was plenty of light so back to blinky, only to see two police cars waiting on the side of the road, so back to the headlight which now began to signal the battery was dying. We had made it to the city lights and all was well, except I had run out of fluids on Ocean Boulevard and the Colwood Strip closed up at 11 PM. Not sure if I would bonk, I was able to top up at the gas station before heading into View Royal. Arriving just before midnight, I was elated to find Mark waiting at the Finish and apologized for my late arrival. A dry cycle home for an accumulated distance of 322 km topped off my day. What an adventure!
The
Hills are Alive 300 Brevet Pin
The effort required to achieve is what gives an item value.