I've been taking it pretty easy since May 23, trying to let my muscles and ligaments around my right knee heal up again.

We had planned on doing a hard 72 mile ride this past Sunday - the Mendocino Monster. The ride started with a 2,000 foot climb with a four mile section of ten percent. My right leg just couldn't handle it. We got to the top of the first climb, looked at the rest of the route profile and turned around and went back down. I'm glad we did because even riding the flat section back to the starting point hurt.

We did have a lovely weekend in Ukiah, however, with dinner at a nice restaurant. And it is beautiful country up there. We're going to put it on our calendar again for next year.

Yesterday's training session with Shawna was pretty tough. Upper body always hurts so much. The really killer set was the first one. First I did chest press, then shoulder press then. That wasn't so bad. It was the push ups. I only had to do three - but in between each one I had to hold myself off the floor, about an inch, for twenty seconds and then press up. It's amazing how long twenty seconds is! And that press up - OH BOY!!!!

I've been busy planning out our trip the the North Rim of the Grand Canyon - menu planning mostly. In our household, camping does not mean roughing it. We're going to have Bananas Foster French Toast, Rum Baked Peaches, Maple Caramel Baked Apples, Bourbon Glazed Chicken...

We're taking a shower, a PET toilet and a frig. We even bought a new tent - one you can stand up in it. Definitely not roughing it.

I'm hoping the time I've taken off has been enough so that I can ride and run the Rainbow Rim Trail. As long as there are no ten percent grades I think I'll be okay. I'm taking my yoga mat too.

Veronica