If you have been keeping up to date with Jeremiah's blogs, you already know that his dare devil training is in full swing. He is gearing up for an epic adventure. Check out the "Events" page for a clue. So on Friday, as he was summiting Reddish Knob after already riding 5 hours, I was having a blast at one of the 6-Pack Downhill rides. We all met up at the usual Food Cat to stock up on the ante, but it looks like Jack and I were the only ones that were able, er, allowed to make our purchases - jack because he was in the market for A&W, I because I slipped through the cracks before Sue attempted to buy her beer without any idea and then said "oh nevermind it" when the register girl asked if she wanted to run out to her car and get it. "Oh nevermind it" is teenage code for "I don't really have an ID that says I am 21." But Sue does.... oh well. The JMU boys do what all college boys do, and they just seemed to make beer appear.
The ride was a good time. We rode up on Narrowback near the radio towers. I made some new friends and was happy to see many familiar faces return! With the days getting shorter, we have to find shorter downhills to race, but we were in for a treat when Thomas said that we had time to complete two timed sections! We started with an unnamed section that is famed for 20+ nasty water bars... "Never raced here without a broken collar bone," warned Thomas. It was fast and we were on our way back up the climb before we knew it, but not before the sun went down. The second dowhhill was a bit trickier for those of us without night vision.
We completed a TON of yardwork on Saturday, visited a pumpkin patch and cooked a fall-feast for dinner. I can confidently say that I have PERFECTED my butternut squash soup recipe.
Sunday was spent in Williamsburg for the Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge, see Jeremiah's blog for the -extensive- recap. It was great to see our friends from Maryland. Jeremiah and I both left wishing that they all lived closer and we could get together more often.
We both have busy weeks ahead, I am going to a conference in DC, Jeremiah is going to tackle a 10-hour ride.
Next weekend is going to be filled with fun... can you say INVITATIONAL?
Happy Halloween
Erin
P.S. Tomorrow night is the cross ride, be there.
posted by E Bishop # 6:11 PM 
