22 August 2011 Ride: No Memory

After dropping Rachel off at a friend's so that she could carpool in to school, I drove to the Botanical Garden, parked and then rode into town for a meeting.

Along the way, there was a great shot of the railing of one of the bridges casting a shadow on the opposite railing.

A bit further down, the shoes.  I finally got a shot of them.  I was tempted to toss them further away from the trail into the taller grass as I was afraid they were doomed to be picked up on the next litter pick up.  But, I let them be and left them to fate.

The early light was catching a large tree trunk with a large gaping cavity just right.  The close up looked as if it was an entrance to a cave.

The meeting with Laura, the director of Community Meals went well and I was off again on the trail back to the other side of town for a dentist appointment.  Along the way, the gathering clouds collected in rolls and folds and wonderful shades of greys.

And then there was the wet, almost full pack of Camel cigarettes with the filter ends exposed resting in a bed of tobacco within the pack and four butts lying in the immediate area.  A very interesting array.

So, where are these photos?  Seems as if when I went to delete one picture, I accidentally hit "Delete All Images" so that everything on the memory card was erased.  I kept turning the camera off and on and rechecking in the hopes that they would somehow magically reappear.  "No Memory" was the only response.

So, I start tomorrow with a blank slate.

Today's Ride:  2hrs. 42mins.  31.60 miles.  76-87degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,638.99

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20 August 2011 Ride: Feeling Naked

Yesterday, I saw that Keith Sams was planning to do a ride in Joplin today that was in honor of a soldier who died in Afghanistan in 2002.  Part of the proceeds of the ride, the (Philip) Svitak Freedom Ride, went to purchasing bikes for children of military personnel.  This sounded like a ride I would like to do: 1) a nice 64 mile loop around Joplin; 2) change of scenery and something interesting to write about for the blog and; 3) the honored soldier's first name was Philip and his last name was also not easy to pronounce, like mine; what was there not to like about participating in this event? 

 

But, I didn't think I would survive another night of waking up at 4:20, this time on purpose, as Keith was leaving his house at 5:15 for the ride up to Joplin.  I wavered back and forth and finally let Keith know that going up would not be a good idea.

I did manage to sleep a bit later and took a small ride in the neighborhood in the morning.  Rachel mentioned last night she was up for a bike ride from the Botanical Garden to the Farmer's Market and that's what we ended up doing.  To my dismay, when we arrived at the Botanical Garden, I discovered that I left my camera on the counter; I never felt so naked and incomplete.  Thus, the only picture I took was when I got back from my short morning ride and saw the deer above in our neighbor's yard.  

I especially wanted to have the camera because we would be passing the shoes.  Sure enough, someone had moved them so that they now sat right on the edge of the trail in the grass about two feet (no pun intended) apart.  

But, maybe it's a good thing the camera was left behind.  Like all technology, it's good to have it stripped away occasionally and not have it around to use or depend on.  So, all I have to offer today is a bit fuzzy, nothing out of the ordinary shot of a deer.  

Today's Ride:  2hrs. 45mins.  27.80 miles.  86-96 degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,552.32

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15 August 2011: Filled Again!

mylifeasabike2 has been filled to capacity with pictures. For any postings after 14 August 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike3.blogspot.com. Thank you!

14 August 2011 Ride: Red Mailbox in Morning...

Lupe playing with our pet armadillo.  Actually, I was surprised at how well Lupe restrained from attacking the visitor yesterday evening.  But Lupe seemed content to follow the armadillo as he sauntered across the yard and into the woods.


It was a beautiful morning, with a cool breeze from the NNE.  It amazed me last week with all the hot weather when we had a wind from the north and it was still above 100; something did not seem right about that.

 Sunday morning and so I planned to head out Hwy 45 east.  But as I got out on the road and looked down into the valley, a change of route seemed in order.  Sitting on the road, looking down the hill, it looked as if I would descend into an ocean.

 People are always complaining about electric wires getting in the way of a good picture (me included) but I liked having the wires in this picture.

A mailbox I pass often on Hwy 45 and, as it turns out, belonging to the mother of a friend.  Catching it in the morning sun really made it stand out.  I like the way it seems dripping wet with red paint and the surrounding grass seems tinged as well with stray red paint.


Instead of heading east into the valley, I headed west toward Fayetteville, planning to ride downtown and then head back on the bike trail. Coming off the trail at the Botanical Garden and heading through a subdivision, I came across the sight below.  I could hear the person sorting recycling. 

Today's Ride:  2hrs 45mins.  33.25 miles.  69-77 degrees  Miles YTD:  5,369.85

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13 August 2011 Ride

On my morning walk, the sky was a striking mix of various patterns. 

Lobster for Dinner

I had passed this spot on the road where I found the crayfish a few times on the ride this morning, so I was very surprised to see the little fella.  The closest water was a couple of hundred yards away making it a mystery how he ended up in the middle of the road.  I pondered if a bird snagged him and then dropped him.  BTW: He is only about 3-4 inches long.

Carol and Rachel are home from Ghana and so I am going to keep this short today.

Today's Ride:  3hrs 36mins.  45.11 miles.  69-80 degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,336.60

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12 August 2011 Ride: A Suped-Up Walter Mitty

Morning breaks again over the wide expansive snowfield; I move slowly in my sleeping bag, rolling over to grab another 30 minutes of sleep.  Finally, I pull myself out and peek out the tent; the sun has already risen and I'm already off to a late start.  Even the still, clear, crisp air doesn't seem to overcome the fatigue that I've battled with the past few days.

I believe I've mentioned that I have often thought of this journey as a poor man's Antarctic adventure.  I think of the man who tackled crossing to the South Pole unaided and draw far-fetched parallels.  There is, of course, no comparison.  I don't have to haul a sled behind me, fight snowstorms, frigid temperatures...hmm, wait; I have done those.  But, I have a warm place to retreat to at the end of the day, plenty of food, massage therapists if needed, long insurmountable rides, 110 degree heat.  Still...

 

 Rather than settle into a comfortable routine of riding a mere 60 minutes everyday, I keep raising the bar on myself, finding new challenges within the journey. I started upping the miles per day, looking at covering more miles by the end of the year and pushing, pushing myself to new limits. 

The shoes with a fresh coating of grass clippings.

It does seem as if Sunday's 102.6 (sounds like a fever) miler in 100+ temps preceded by several other high mileage days in high temps, finally got the better of me and my body finally said, whoa.  But, like the man going solo in the Antarctic, a day of rest basically means just not pushing so hard for a day or so but staying in one place is not an option. 

Still fatigued but feeling stronger today.  Two days ago, only 10 miles, yesterday, 15 and today, 21 miles.  Slowly getting back up to snuff.

I have passed this spoon on Vantage Rd. several times over the past couple of weeks.  Finally had to stop and take a picture.

Rare Antarctic Purple Flower.

And, of course, in the Antarctic, I would not come around a curve on the bike trail and come across one of my very devoted fans. 

I was just thinking a minute before seeing Tom and Colene about bike trips this fall and if a trip to Iowa, where they live, would be a possibility.  And then, there they were with their daughter Paula.  I kept waiting for them to come down here to visit so that I could get a picture of them for the blog and running into them today was perfect.

Today's Ride:  1hr 52mins.  21.16 miles.  77 - 85 degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,291.49

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11 August 2011 Ride

 Taken about 5:30 AM

 Though not as wiped out as yesterday, still very fatigued on the ride today with low energy.  Thus, keeping the posting short today as well.

 Cart before the horse?  Our neighbor taking ponies over to another neighbor's for a birthday party.

Today's Ride:  1hr 22mins.  15.15 miles.  77 degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,270.33

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