The Not So Epic Epic Deux

So hard was yesterdays ride that even the bikes put up a protest today. Waking and baking to a numerous cups of coffee as the team readied for part 2 of the Epic Epic (it was time to finish the trails left untouched yesterday). Both Top Chef and Braveheart grabbed their rides only to discover that yesterday's epic had left the latex punctured (thankfully there were no pregnancies to report) and a bit of quick repair before loading up the car to head for the Jim Thompson Trail head.
With unfinished business from yesterday we arrived at the trailhead for an out and back adventure taking in Jim Thompson/Jordan/Soldiers Pass/Tea Cup/Jordan/Jim Thompson to complete the cosmic loop that Chewie had laid out on the first day (I am sure that Chewie was getting a good chuckle out of us attempting the ride so early in the season). Rebounding from day 2, Braveheart clipped in and was up the first climb with Top Chef in pursuit and C-Dubs coming apart at the hip. Griff's recovery form the previous day was right there in the annals of cycling with Floyd's Stage 17 comeback. The riding was a bit more open then the past two days but this time was strewn with numerous sections of loose rock on both the descents and climbs. Again Top Chef was the class of the ride but this time Griff was glued to his wheel while I was back a bit suffering in my own private Idaho. At the end of Jordan we set about looking for Tea Cup which Chewie had assured was a trail not to be missed. After riding around in circles, outrunning the rock crawling jeeps and going out and back on Soldiers Pass we found the elusive trailhead. Immediately the climbing began but this time we all had a smile since we would be descending the same smooth forest trail later in the day.
At the top of the trail it was time for lunch and a mid ride attitude adjuster to ensure a superior attitude and superior state of mind before setting off back down Tea Cup and across the mountains to the trailhead.No sooner were we back at the car then the incredible thing was at work locating the freshest IPAs to be had - The Oak Creek Brewery. Here we feasted and drank like viking warriors after a conquest leaving our waitress with fear in her eyes. Back at the hacienda, Griff still had energy to burn and headed off on a walkabout on the trails behind the condo. Both Top Chef and I were amazed at the energy being displayed and after almost an hour suddenly out of the trails wandered a little chid and then a pregnant woman. We both did a double take and commented that Braveheart was indeed a busy man on this hike!