Red Trail, 42 Minutes a Big Beetle and Biting Flies

Well after a messed up late afternoon I was able to ride out to MH and hit the Red Trail. 82 Degrees out Humid and a bit windy. My ride there was extra quick and I was able to get into the park from my house in 10 minutes which beats typical time of around 12 minutes. As I ride I also notice I am in the middle gears only and have yet to use my granny gears.... that lasted until the hill just past the river road trail merge. That hill always makes me granny gear it... Start cruising along now and notice my pace is around 15 on the flats... Wow I am moving compared to what I did when I first started riding the Red Trail... I get to what I think is the North side of the lake and the wind kick up... I have to struggle to get 12 MPH... Well the hill of dome is closing in and I feel a bit tired... Hit the hill and struggle a little more then I have, but make it up... BREATH, BREATH... The little remaining uphill section is coming up and then home free... I get to the crest of the paved section and I feel a THUD on my helmet... I thought at first it was a branch, acorn or something until it started grabbing at my head in a desperate attempt to hang on... I SLAM on the breaks (Not doing an Endo) unclasp my helmet and shake it... A beetle/junebug/whatever the size of a Quarter goes tumbling into the brush... Before I can put my helmet back on I realize I am standing in a LARGE Swarm of BITING FLIES!!! Slap my helmet on and start riding quickly swatting at all the little Vampires as they begin to bite me... I one hand CLIP my helmet and RACE down the hill... I head on home and try to push it,, but I am hot and a little tired...

42:08 Time
12.60 Average Speed
8:98 Distance.

Still a little over 2 minutes from that seemingly elusive under 40:00 minute mark...