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Last night, I prepared to do a 100 miler today. One more big one; go down the home stretch with a real flair, a big bang. It would start off on the cool side this morning (35) but warm to the low 50s. But, upon waking (actually while I slept), the decompression, the recovery process was strongly tugging. Added to that was Carol and Rachel's departure for Atlanta today. If I left in time to get the 100 miler in, I would be out of the house before they woke: I wasn't sure that I wanted to do that.
Maybe one of the hardest parts of the ride is transferring back into my previous life. The need, the urge to keep putting in the miles is mighty powerful. An ironic ride, of sorts, today. I waited till Carol and Rachel were awake but it was still only 38 degrees when I hit the road. On top of that, there was a light drizzle for the first 15-20 minutes.
I wasn't sure how far I would ride. With only 10 miles under my belt, I threw out the idea of still doing a 100. Yeah, right, I thought. That would have me finishing at 9:00 at night. And, I knew I wanted to get back home and do...what? I wasn't quite sure but I knew I was already beginning to slip into recuperation mode. The first of the year wasn't quite here but I was ready for the healing that would come with it.
The irony of the ride was that when I was finishing up, the skies cleared, the sun shone and the temperature began to quickly climb.
But back home, I did something I hadn't done for quite some time: a hike in our woods. Lupe was ecstatic. Armed with the small Canon in my pocket and the Canon Rebel in a small back pack, down into the woods we went.
It was good to revisit the river overlook where I used to spend many a day just sitting on a rock ledge and looking out.
21 years ago, on another part of the woods, I decided to make a platform out of fallen cedar logs and hickory planks I obtained at an auction. No nails were used to secure the cedar logs to the standing trees but were lashed with rope. The platform is about six inches off the ground in the foreground and close to three feet off the ground at the farther end. The cedar logs are still free of rot and, amazingly, the ropes are still holding securely to the trees.
At one point, I came across a stump that had the appearance of coral and/or petrified wood.
I still enjoy my time on the bike but I am enjoying the decompression process and slowly weaning myself of the constant demands of the journey.
But, as one can see, the love of photography continues and my life as a bike will just continue in a slightly different vein.
Today's Ride: 1hr 50mins. 20.12 miles. 38°-42° Miles YTD: 10,104.92
Donations for Biking for Food, which support the Community Meals at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, AR, can be sent to: Biking for Food, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 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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