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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