5 August 2011 Ride: The Beat Goes On

Yesterday, I was like a zombie trying to get through the day.  I saw just how wiped out I was when I ended up sleeping through the night, a rarity.  With the same grueling pace the past few days, I decided to shake up the biking schedule even if it meant riding in the heat of the day.  Working around the house in the morning and running errands in the early afternoon, I ended up on the bike trail, starting at the south end, a bit around 1:45. 


 A few pre-ride pictures:

 At First Thursday last night in downtown Fayetteville, I was talking with David, whom I didn't know, and it turned out I passed him on the trail on my ride Thursday morning. 

 Morning walk.

Coming around a curve on the trail, I spotted this mattress that had succumbed to the heat and had to take a break.

 

These shoes are taking on a life of their own.  I talked to John Erwin this morning and he spotted them as well yesterday when he was on the trail.  Today, someone had placed them together.  

 It was 104 when I left the house and I figured it was at least 105 or 106 by the time I got on the trail. I barely took notice of the 104 reading; after all, yesterday was 110 and the heat was now par for the course.  In the winter, when we had one single digit day after another, I seemed to quickly adapt to riding in the cold weather without giving it much thought.  And the same seems to be happening with riding in the heat. 

 

 Lake Fayetteville.  I like all the activity that seems to be occurring in this otherwise stagnant structure: a door and a window open, gravel on the catwalk, lines hanging down from the railing and the winch inside makes it seem as if something is going on inside as well.

A couple of miles from the end of the ride on the trail, this tall flower in the creek bed caught my eye.  It was rather stunning and a sharp contrast to all the dried grass and the receding water line of the creek.  I almost didn't stop as I was eager to get back.  But, 1/4 mile down the trail, I turned around to get some pictures.  I like the pose above as the flower seems to be gazing pensively over the creek.

 Compared to the other flowers I have photographed the past few days, this one really stands out because of its size, 6-8 inches across, which seems quite remarkable in this heat.

Making sure to stay well hydrated with lots of electrolytes, the ride was really quite pleasurable.

Today's Ride:  2hrs 44mins.  32.01 miles.  106 - 108 degrees.  Miles YTD:  5,063.47

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