I generally don’t enjoy Thursday’s climb up Kings as much as Tuesday’s, because the Thursday version has us riding through Huddart Park, which has an easy lead-in but becomes considerably-steeper than the normal ride up Kings. But today, don’t know why, but it seemed like I had legs that moved and lungs that sorta worked. And today, for the first time ever, I realized that the wooden bridge that crosses the creek, shortly after the lower park gate… that’s a legit Bridge of Death! Just like the BOD at the base of China Grade, or the one just before things get really steep on Tunitas, or the base of West Alpine. How many hundreds of times have I ridden over that bridge without appropriate recognition?

Today we had Kevin (not the pilot), Karl, Karen, Eric & Andrew on a very nice morning, almost nice enough to dispense with leg warmers and base layers, but not quite. Kevin’s still a bit off his game, taking about 33 minutes from Tripp Road to the stop sign at the top of Kings (he’s done 25-something in the past), but he’s hanging onto wheels really well when things flatten out, and his descending is getting better too. Sunday’s 100k Sequoia Century should be challenging, but fine. He’s probably about two weeks away from being able to do 100 miles again.

One really positive aspect to Kevin being able to ride again has been a substantial reduction in the frequency and severity of his seizures. Can’t really say why that’s the case, just thankful that it is.