For nary all of us can be Cat2 cutiez: the gentleperson's weekly sportif / randonnée / brevet log

dirty gran fondle was hard, hard, hard. first 18km: soupy mud for 2km, then grind uphill for another 3km with road interrupted by 'water bars' (deep channel across road with big sharp stones used to fill in) every 300m, then rolling ascent leading to mega-steep gravel downhill (i walked it), then red clay climb for 1km @ 14% average (i walked that too).

after that it was quite nice! smooth rollers through bushfire area in the fog was eerie highlight. transitioned to red clay fire roads through thicker forested area, couple of long steady climbs, squirmy rolling forest section before last checkpoint, then return to the finish via the muddy section we'd started on.

some jokers bought along a fondue kit w/ cheese and a bottle of wine and had a picnic at one of the checkpoints!