2 August 2011 Ride: The Edge of Lightness

Erin Cannon, a past student of Carol's and a past babysitter for our kids, wrote on Facebook that she wished the dawn would come later so that she could experience it more often.  I know when I was in my twenties, catching a sunrise was a huge event.  Now, in my late fifties, it is rare for me NOT to be up before the first light of the dawn.




Interestingly, this morning when I woke at  4:30, I rued the fact that the sunrise is slipping further and further into the day with this morning's coming around 6:25 here in Fayetteville, Arkansas, instead of 5:50 back at the solstice.  What this means when I wake so early, is that I have to decide if I want to lamp-up or let time pass until there is enough light to ride by.  Sometimes riding by headlight is fun but it can also be more taxing as more concentration is needed to make out the shadows on the road.  This morning I decided to wait for that edge of lightness. 




Forty-five minutes before sunrise is usually when I can safely head out without a light and that is with a clear sky. I'm sure I am repeating myself but, for me, it is one of the most beautiful times of the day, as it was this morning even if it was 83 degrees at 5:00 AM.

 

The riding was rather sluggish as I felt as if I was carrying 30lbs worth of saddle bags but I was still enjoying being out.  Riding in the neighborhood, I passed the white rail fence on every lap.  I often eye it when I ride in the neighborhood, looking for a possible photo opportunity.  This morning, it kept grabbing my attention so I figured that meant I ought to stop.  I really liked the texture of these close ups of the rust but I liked them even more when I discovered the faces.  Is it just me?

As I walked through the dried grass back to my bike, a clusters of very small yellow flowers caught my eye. Riding by on the bike they are easy to overlook and even walking by them it would be easy to just keep going. 

 This little blossom is only 7mm or 3/8 of an inch across.  And then it is filled with all those other tiny little blossoms. Truly a marvel.

With 17+ miles done in the morning, I anticipated riding again in the late afternoon when the temperature reached a new high for this summer.  Not that I want to see these record-breaking highs but if they are going to come I will relish in the challenge of riding in them.

To warm up for the ride, I spent an hour from 2:30 - 3:30 taking down barbed wire; it was only 104 or 105 then.  I rode in 105 yesterday so I was waiting for the 106 or 107 that was in the forecast.  At 4:10, the weather station at the house showed 106.  I quickly geared up, watching it fluctuate between 106 and 105.  When I finally left, it was back up to 106.  Thirteen miles later, with one stop to pump up a slow leak, the weather station showed 107.    I guess if I really want to ride in a record heat, I need to drive down to Ft. Smith where they are predicted to have 113 tomorrow.  We only have 109 in our forecast.

On the ride, when I took my first drink from the Camelbak pack, even though I filled the sac with ice, the water in the tube was hot enough to give me a slight pizza burn where those little bumps emerge on the roof of the  mouth.  It was an odd sensation to reach for the brake handles and they were almost hot to the touch.  Riding in such heat, one really must be cautious.  Even though I sipped frequently, I was a bit light-headed when I returned and was amazed to see that I downed 1.5 liters of liquid in no time.  The 24 hour ride will definitely have to wait till cooler days.

Today's Ride: 2hr. 38mins.  30.35 miles.  83 and 107 degrees.  Miles YTD:  4,971.37

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