18 Dec 2011 Ride: The Beat Goes On

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Two things are for sure for next year: One, I will rest on January 1; Two, I will certainly ride again next year, probably within the first week of January.  It's in the blood and I don't think it can easily be removed, not that I want to have it removed. 

But today's ride was a testament to the will of the biker as I rejected the idea of just coasting to the end of the year by doing the minimum. Highs in the 50s but with no sun, it certainly seemed much cooler as opposed to yesterday when it was in the low 50s but with sun.  I set out three hours ahead of a holiday party that Carol and I were going to attend and I would meet here there with a change of clothes packed in the van. 

A quiet day on one of my favorite routes that takes me on Wyman Rd up and over Round Mt., then back down into Wyman Valley.  Quiet, because of the heavy, gray overcast; funny how sun makes a day seem loud and clouds make a day seem quiet even though there was a 12-20mph wind blowing throughout the day.


This is a utility box I've passed countless of times but, today, it caught my attention as a caricature of Olyve Oyl with her skinny legs and wearing pantaloons.

After leaving Wyman Valley, the cow below caught my eye with her very intense stare.

She was very patient as I took several pictures and stole a few steps closer.  After I rode off, she moved closer to the fence, sniffing the area I occupied to catch her own glimpse of what I was all about.


Sometimes when I stopped, the wind had a very different quality from when I was moving.  Even with the wind, there was still a sense of quiet and peace.  And, I love how the wind sounds so different depending on what type of trees I happen to be around; pines gives the wind a more lonely, deep in the mountains quality - at least for me.


Looking up at the sky near Walker Park, the rift in the clouds reminded me of two contrasting snow banks or two continental shelves that were pushing up against one another.  But in the photo it looks more like a thin twister.

What was really astonishing about the cloud mass was how quickly it was moving, almost completely out of view within 60 seconds.

The new attitude about the wind that I adopted a while back continues to hold; in fact I seem to have integrated so well that I don't even think of a ride as having wind anymore.  Again, don't get me wrong, I will take calm days over windy days any time.

A great ride where I could easily have gone much further if time allowed.

Today's Ride:  3hrs 19mins.  34.82 miles.  55°-51°  12-20mph wind.   Miles YTD:  10,049.13

A reminder that piggy-backing on this year-long journey is the effort to raise money for Community Meals where I volunteer cook every Wednesday.  Seeing donations come in would make achieving the 10,000 mile mark that much sweeter.  Those can be sent to:

St. Paul's Episcopal Church,
Biking for Food,
224 N. East Ave.,
Fayetteville, AR 72701

Or, make a pledge per bike miles ridden at  www.stpaulsfay.org/bikingforfood.html.

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