25 June 2011 Ride: Snakes in the World

Finally. Woke up and I didn't feel fatigued.  In fact, I was eager to get on the bike for a long ride.  Lots of changing sky to photograph.

 I really like what seems to be the shadow of clouds behind the clouds.

 Habberton Rd.

 I see lots of cows in ponds trying to cool off but I liked the way these cows seemed parked in the pond.

 I always love the sound of a train whistle blowing and seeing them ride by. 

 I was on the bike trail about a third of the time today as I like passing people and hoped I might come across familiar faces.  I passed Kurt and Paula as I was headed back home and I was glad to chat with them for a few minutes.  It is interesting that Fayetteville is still small enough that people, strangers, on the trail will usually exchange a friendly nod.  In Paris, my tendency was to want to nod as I passed other bicyclists but, as is the case in big cities, people keep their focus forward.  I did find that people are willing to exchange greetings, it's just not what comes naturally.

For over a year now, I've been trying to repair our canoe which needed new railings as the wooden ones rotted.  We have a second canoe that needs new gunwales, a much easier repair.  It's been an involved process with many obstacles.  After a year of amassing the right tools and parts and knowledge, David and I took on the challenge of finishing off the project.  One of the canoes was sitting upside down on a shelf on the outside of a shed.  We carried it to the open and turned it over.  David jumped back.  I looked inside and, what do you know, another copperhead (I came across one on the trail yesterday).  We deduced that it was lying in the end of the canoe where I was carrying it.  I guess I was pretty lucky.

After six hours, moving the canoe a couple of times to stay in the shade, cutting some parts to make them fit and other ingenuity, we finished both canoes in time for David to hit the river tomorrow.

Today's Ride:  2hrs. 46mins.  33.06 miles  82 degrees.  Miles YTD:  3,918.56