Hills today are named "Twin Peaks or Evil Twins"depending on to whom you speak.

Two successive hills. I am told the scenery at the top of the second is truly amazing.
I brace myself for both, not knowing which will be worse. As I pedal up, up, up,
I remember my parting words on my web site "Don't Look Up!" So, I look over to the
right. There's a beautiful green valley, that is gorgeous. Here I was huffing and puffing
and I almost missed that beautiful vista. Just a little more. Noticing the beauty of the
valley and being distracted from the hard work actually helped. I am just about at the
top. There was a plateau and then that big dip back there. Was that two hills or was it
only one? Wouldn't that be too sweet.

People cheering at the top "Congratulations! Just one more to go". Well, I guess that
answers THAT question. Enjoy the downhill. Who knows how long it will last. But it
does feel great. Wheeeee!

O.K. Starting the climb again. I now have a strategy. Distract yourself with something
good, while you struggle through the hard parts. The scenery to my right is again
magnificent. The shades of green, the blue sky, the cool breeze....kind of like life....
"it is an ill wind indeed that doesn't blow in some good". Distract yourself with
something good, while you struggle through the hard parts. That really is like life.
Keep pedaling. Concentrate on the scenery waiting at the top.

I crest the top of the hill and there is a rock face on one side and an arid landscape
that was grass at one time on the other. This is ghastly. Was the beautiful-promised
scenery just a joke? Cheers from the people waiting at the top. "Congratulations!
You did it. Way to go."

I cycle a little further and there it is..... as far as the eye can see, the other side of
the mountain (certainly it was more than just a hill), the blue sky, fluffy white clouds,
the green valley, the Pacific Ocean and rocks the size of small towns in the near
distance. It couldn't have been more beautiful when Balboa found it. It dazzles the
senses. WOW! So, this is a mountaintop experience! Stop, take pictures...enjoy
the view. Didn't I do WELL!

I cycle a little further and voila...there's sign reading "HALFWAY TO LOS ANGELES"
and that SPECTACULAR view behind it!

The downhill I expect to be a breeze and boy was I right. I am braking the whole way,
but still my bike goes faster and faster. I no longer measure the speed by my newly
acquired odometer, but by the colour of my white knuckles ferociously clutching the
handlebars. And those POWERFUL cross-wind gusts are back and stronger than
ever. Once more I am actually scared. The last thing I want is to be thrown over
the handlebars.

Then I remember: That's impossible. I am clipped into my pedals. Faster!
My bike is starting to wobble beneath me. Just s-l-o-w down a little at a time........
WHOOOSH! More wind. The down hill is seven miles, even this won't last forever.
Down, down, down.....closer to the waiting Pacific Ocean. Just enjoy the journey.
Find a balance.

I decide these two hills are a metaphor for life. Even the shape of the words are the
same ... hill and life. Each one consists of an uphill and a downhill and then up again.
When faced with a tough part, find something good to focus on and just keep
pedaling. And just when it looks most bleak, just around the corner, there just might
be a view more gorgeous than you can imagine.