Amazing Grace (March 19: Day 16--Kingston, NM/Emory Pass)

Today I am back in the saddle...been to the doctor, have oral antibiotics, have new shorts....ok!  Let's do it!  Of course, I chose the toughest day of climbing on the entire trip to jump back in.....over 5000 ft of climbing in 47 miles.  Ouch....  a constant upward grade ranging from 2% to 14%.

 Was I nervous--you bet.  I am not well versed at climbing, and having fallen a couple of times because of mis-shifting (the chain fell off and locked the pedals), I was having all sorts of mental conversations of why I could not do this.  Fear.....what a powerful emotion. The self-doubt was definitely present, but I didn't sign up for this trip to watch.  I have already been on the sidelines too long for medical reasons, there was no way I was going to let these conversations rule me.  Let's go; let's do this!

It was a beautiful ride through the Gila National Forest, up and over Emory Pass, elevation over  8000 ft.  Snow was still on the ground and it actually started snowing at one point.

 I rode through wonderful pine forests, with creeks running rapidly on both sides of the road.  The rock formations were phenomenal....and the smells....pine, cool crisp air....I felt like I was back in the Wind River Wilderness.  Despite the beauty, the climb was grueling. The 'big' climb was 12 miles...no relief.  I put on my tunes and spun up the mountain listening to a mix of disco (yes, I said disco) and Sousa marches.  (Laugh if you must, but the tempo provides a great cadence beat.) At one point, Stars and Stripes was on, and I was stuggling slowly up a 12% grade.....then the piccolo started playing, and in my mind, came my sister, Shari, and I saw her playing this when she was in high school....up the the grade I went until it faded to an easy 7%.  Spinning, spinning, spinning. On I went.  I rounded a hairpin turn with 14% grade AND  HIT A STRONG HEAD WIND!!  I was spent--in my granniest of granny gears, and decided, this one was worth walking.....   Let me tell you, walking was just as challenging--muscles were cramping as new demands were required.  Legs 'rested' and with the grade more gentle, I got back on and continued to the top, still fighting first a head wind, then a crosswind, and back to the headwind.  A storm was brewing....

I reached my cry point (that's when I have reached my breaking point---that's when I either muster up the strength and walk through it to a new level on physical and mental ability  or I cave in and settle with my current comfort level) at mile 38.5--I just didn't think I had it in me to go another foot.  "Burning Alive" (how appropriate) was playing on my Nano.....suddenly, as I was ready to clip out and quit...tears running down my cheeks (the cry point)....the music suddenly changed to a beautiful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace.....the sun came out, the wind died and to my right, the forest broke, and I was looking down and across miles and miles of breathtaking beauty.

 Divine intervention...angels on my shoulder.... you decide.  ....Amazing Grace was not on that playlist.... Now my tears were for another reason,  and I dug deep, rounded  the curve, and climbed to the summit.  I had walked through my fears and self doubt.

I did it!

75 miles