Day 7, 8, and 9
Have got to play catch up on the ole log. I think perhaps an every day log is not too practical, as some days there just isn’t time to find the time. And if I hold myself to that level of rigor, I’ll just end up beating the crap out of myself. I’m finally doing something that I’ve ached to do for years and I must not let my brain squish all the fun out of it! Okay, the rides:
Monday (Day 7) was smokey in the morning. The NC fires seem to continue on and on like some giant flaming tire mountain. Actually for us its more like a giant campfire, where you keep having to get up and move your chair when the smoke starts blowing in your face. Except you can’t move out of the way and just have to pray for a wind shift so it will blow on someone else. Biking in it wasn’t so bad, but my eyes were stinging and felt kind of out of sorts. Ride home meant going straight to the Mallory for miss A’s swimming time trials. She did well, but I was somewhat uncomfortable still in my work clothes in the afternoon heat. Monday night there were storms which I thought would take care of the smoke, but lo it was there more than ever on:
Tuesday (Day 8) morning. I discovered my route to be puddle strewn due to overnight rain. I avoided most of it but at Bainbridge and Poindexter, it covered most of the road, above my pedal low point. Nothing for it but to pedal through. I really only got one shoe totally immersed, but the flying spray was a messy reminder that I really need fenders. Ride home: decided to take advantage of my enforced detour (due to continuing Brambleton Bridge Sidewalk Closing mystery) and just continue into Ghent and run some errands (Bike shop, Drug store). It seems kind of silly to bike to and from work and then have to get in a car to run errands around my neighborhood.
Wednesday (Day 9), smoke gone for now. Hands have been particularly numb/tingly this morning. I fought it off as much as I could with changing hand positions, but it was bothersome throughout the ride. It’s weird, on some days I have no problems with my hands and on others it’s constant. Ride home was nice with temps in the low 80s. Passed and older gentleman going the other way on Mowbray Arch on a nice recumbent. He smiled and gave me the high sign and gave him my "chapeau" salute. I know recumbent bikes catch a lot of dorky grief in the biking universe, but it may well be my future one day if I want to keep cycling into old age. I'd rather be dorky but still cycling when I reach whatever age the good Lord allows. So rock on recumbent riders everywhere. I hear you are pretty fast!
Monday (Day 7) was smokey in the morning. The NC fires seem to continue on and on like some giant flaming tire mountain. Actually for us its more like a giant campfire, where you keep having to get up and move your chair when the smoke starts blowing in your face. Except you can’t move out of the way and just have to pray for a wind shift so it will blow on someone else. Biking in it wasn’t so bad, but my eyes were stinging and felt kind of out of sorts. Ride home meant going straight to the Mallory for miss A’s swimming time trials. She did well, but I was somewhat uncomfortable still in my work clothes in the afternoon heat. Monday night there were storms which I thought would take care of the smoke, but lo it was there more than ever on:
Tuesday (Day 8) morning. I discovered my route to be puddle strewn due to overnight rain. I avoided most of it but at Bainbridge and Poindexter, it covered most of the road, above my pedal low point. Nothing for it but to pedal through. I really only got one shoe totally immersed, but the flying spray was a messy reminder that I really need fenders. Ride home: decided to take advantage of my enforced detour (due to continuing Brambleton Bridge Sidewalk Closing mystery) and just continue into Ghent and run some errands (Bike shop, Drug store). It seems kind of silly to bike to and from work and then have to get in a car to run errands around my neighborhood.
Wednesday (Day 9), smoke gone for now. Hands have been particularly numb/tingly this morning. I fought it off as much as I could with changing hand positions, but it was bothersome throughout the ride. It’s weird, on some days I have no problems with my hands and on others it’s constant. Ride home was nice with temps in the low 80s. Passed and older gentleman going the other way on Mowbray Arch on a nice recumbent. He smiled and gave me the high sign and gave him my "chapeau" salute. I know recumbent bikes catch a lot of dorky grief in the biking universe, but it may well be my future one day if I want to keep cycling into old age. I'd rather be dorky but still cycling when I reach whatever age the good Lord allows. So rock on recumbent riders everywhere. I hear you are pretty fast!