You've come a long, steep, rutted, sick way baby!

Two Sundays ago, Bob took me back to the fire road where I experienced my first mountain bike ride.  I'm sure you all remember that wonderful experience.  It was kind of a misty morning, perfect for riding a bike. I have to admit that it was way easier this time around.

As we were riding up this wide, flat road, Bob reminisced about that first ride.  "This is where you were freaking out because there were ruts and you could only ride in one spot of the road.  You were wobbly because there was gravel and you didn't think you could ride over it" Wow, I thought that was yet to come, this was like riding on the street, I even took this picture while riding my bike.

As we approached this tractor, I was reminded, "This is where you had to stop and felt like you were going to throw up.  That was only 15 minutes into the ride.  Remember your legs were shaking and you had to sit down".  Gee, thanks Bob.  Its all coming back to me, fortunately, I made it past this spot no problem.  Once again, taking this picture on my bike as I rode past.
Pay no attention to the school bus crashed over the side of the road!  Think steep, sharp turn. Passed it by no problem!  School bus, not so lucky!
Okay, I give up!  I've come farther than I did last time and as I round the hill, all I see before me is more steep hill!!! UGH-no way.  "Come on Janie, just a little bit further, you have to mentally get past this, you can do it"  Bob tries to entice me with competing with myself.  No luck, I'm fine with giving up, I have nothing to prove to myself, but I go about 1/4 mile further for him. I don't find it inspiring to give it all I've got to make it to a certain point and when I round the corner see an even bigger obstacle. (Although, I do feel a certain pride when I've done something hard for me.)  Bob takes it on, feeling exhilarated with triumph when he conquers it!  I'm happy to watch, thank you very much! 
That blue dot in the middle of the road at the turn is Bob.  This picture doesn't make this road look as steep as it is, but believe me, you would have trouble pushing your bike up this hill let alone ride it!  Bob loves the down hill.  I enjoy it under carefully controlled conditions, i.e. using the brake!  Bob just goes; FAST!!!  He puts out all the effort of the uphill for the reward(THRILL) of the downhill.  Don't worry, he will wait for me at a leveling off spot.  If I take too long, he will backtrack for me, but I'm usually not that far behind him.

We both enjoy mountain bike riding, but for different reasons.  I just like being outside, with Bob, enjoying the scenery, while getting a little exercise.  Bob loves the effort and exhaustion of the uphill, the mind engaging choices of the path to choose in a particularly hard patch and the thrill of the downhill.   That is why we only ride together on Sunday!