....Bee stings that is---5 of them!!!!(see below for more dramatic story ;) We had a very good experience in Chattanooga last weekend------there is absolutely no comparison in Jackson anywhere to the climbs we experienced there. Where else can you climb continuously for 50 minutes?!! Signal Mountain is where we experienced that climb----rode there Saturday and Sunday. We also road Suck Creee Mountain 3 times over the 4th of July weekend. We were blessed with cooler, much less-humid weather Saturday morning. Sunday, we weren't quit as lucky, especially by the time we got to the 6mile run brick after our ride.........HOT w/ hills is not a fun combination :(
This really gave us the confidence we need going into Ironman Canada. The friend's of ours who traveled with us completed IM Canada last year, so they were able to rate the climbs for us. The two significant climbs in Canada are Richter Pass and Yellow Lake. Suck Creek Mountain seems to be a harder climb than Richter Pass, they said. This climb took us around 36 minutes, averaging around 7-8mph continuously up the mountain.
Danny and Jackie picked the PERFECT cabin for us!!! It was awesome :) The cabin had a top and bottom floor, with 2 separate kitchen, a patio overlooking the gorgeous mountain----with a jacuzzi to boot!!!!
It was 5 of us, and we had such a good time together!!! Most of the day was spent riding, of course, but both days we came home, took an ice bath in the kiddie pool that Jackie brought (yes!!!) 
and grabbed a little afternoon snack/lunch before heading out for a big dinner. We went into Chattanooga two separate nights and had fun at some local restaurants.
Friday evening, Jackie made a yummy shrimp etoufee w/salads and french bread----SO good!!!Let's see---------I got stung by a bee 5 times on Sunday:( One bee went up my shirt before climbing Signal mountain. I had to stop my bike, and after thinking I got it out of my shirt, started back again. Wrong!!!!!! I felt another bite when we stopped again, then saw it fly out of my shirt, but only after it stung me on the chin one more time for good measure!!! I started riding once again, only to feel a bite in my bike shorts!!!! Good grief!!!!!!!!! Those suckers hurt!!
Rick Yelverton is a mad man!!! His coach wanted him to go long both days, so he did the mountain loop TWICE, making it 104 miles on Saturday, then another 104 miles on Sunday!!!!! AMAZING!!!! And let me just say, 104 miles on those mountains is more like accomplishing 150 miles or more on flats------absolutely no comparison!!
We got in 80 miles of 6,000 ft of climbing Saturday with a shorter 2-1/2 mile brick run, and around 60 miles of climbs on Sunday with a 6 mile brick run. Monday, we decided to take the day off since it begins our peak week and we planned a long run Tuesday morning. Danny and Jackie went for one more round Monday morning----BEASTS I'm tellin' ya!!!! I decided to cook breakfast for everyone, so that counts for a little somethin', right ? ;) lol!!!
We are excited to hopefully head back there one last time the last wknd of July for more climbs-----------Oh Canada, watch out for us Mississippians!!!!! We're preparin' hard for ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
