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Sara and Bev attended the Cirque Du Soleil performance in Birmingham last night. They were awed by it. It turned out to be an excellent birthday present for Sara. It was good to see her smiling so brightly when she was talking about it. Bev was very animated in her descriptions, waving her arms to describe the visual images that accompanied the performers. It was money well spent. 27 day to Safari and 18 days to ATW . Bev wanted a day off from riding. Her back was hurting. I bet it was due to the lower riding position I made for her with the handlebars in the lower traditional position. We plan on doing the group ride tomorrow and she wanted to be ready. I think we will have a great time at both events.

28 days to Safari 19 days to ATW . Bev and I had a great ride this morning. It was a perfect riding morning. No wind to speak of. The temp was just right when we launched. Traffic was ok. We toured down by Cedar Creek and got to see lots of pastureland greening up with lots of Dogwood, Redbud, and flowers. We cruised today averaging 15.4 for 30 miles. That is an improvement of 2 mph over our usual averages. I think we are gaining on where we left off back in the Fall. Those months of Winter inactivity had slowed us down. February especially since we hardly got a chance to ride during that month. The club folks rode today but I don't know where they went. If they did the 40 to 50 miles they planned on, I bet they rode out to Bull Gap and over through Hollins and Stewartville and on home via Coaling Road. That makes for a nice ride but Bev isn't ready for 40 to 50 miles. Actually she was a little tired since we had been riding every day this week. She had a day off Wednesday sin

30 days to Safari and 21 days to ATW . We got in a great ride this morning. It wasn't a long ride or particularly fast but the day was really special. We left around 8:30 and it was already as warm as it used to be in the middle of the day. The sky was blue with no clouds in sight. Lots of trees and flowers were blooming. It really was a great day to get out on the bicycle and ride. Next week we go to Cheaha for a Alabama Hiking Trail Society conference. There will be guest speakers and exhibits from hikers and outdoor people. It should be a great getaway. Really Useful Attitudes: * Warm * Enthusiastic * Confident * Supportive * Relaxed * Obliging * Curious * Resourceful * Comfortable * Helpful * Engaging * Laid back * Patient * Welcoming * Cheery * Interested Really Useless Attitudes: * Angry * Sarcastic * Impatient * Bored * Disrespectful * Conceited * Pessimistic * Anxious * Rude * suspicious * Vengeful * Afraid * Self-co

31 days to Safari and 22 days to ATW . I think we can make some progress in our fitness over the next month before the Safari. The forecast is for 70 and 80 degree days which should allow us to get up and get going at 8am and allow at least 2 hrs of riding daily. My sore knee is a small problem but I haven't taken any Ibuprofen yet. The 3 days of the Tandem weekend should be put to good use for some longer rides. I have some things to fix on the tandem. The handlebars need to be put back and wrapped. I also need to wipe the whole thing down with some cleaner to remove the oil and grime. Since we are picnicking with David tomorrow, I will need to get the handlebars redo ne tonight. I wouldn't mind getting the new tires on either but that might prove a little difficult in the time I have and also, if I flat a tube I'll have no spare. Maybe it will fix the problem for Bev's hands but I doubt it. It sounds like more of the usual problem of getting used to staying down on

Bev and I took the RV up to Cheaha State Park for the weekend. We planned on getting in some serious hiking but the weather took a turn for the colder. All weekend it stayed in the 40's or below with a brisk northerly wind. We had to do our walking in spells with breaks at the RV to get warm again. Both mornings we had to stay inside till 10ish before it was warm enough to venture out. 33 days to Safari . Once we got back to town, we took the tandem out on a Sunday afternoon ride. It was a little chilly here but not enough to stop riding. We met the ladies from the bike club on the way. No guys in sight. Today is another evening club ride but here I am at work. Just a few more weeks of training before we go down to Live Oak for some good rides and good food.

42 days to Safari . This has been a very good riding week. Bev and I have ridden most every day except Wednesday and I got in a very nice ride of 30 miles with Richmond and Paul. Today's ride went up to Sycamore. Sara and Melissa were going to do a 50 mile loop. Denis, Josh, Jake and Eric went off on about a 30 miler. When we left from the bike shop they were far ahead. It didn't take long to reel them in. Sara got close on the uphill into Sycamore. I saw her coming so I dropped the hammer and left her behind. My legs are getting some strength back. Not quite up to last summer, but getting there. We are also counting down to the AHTC at Cheaha. That should be fun too. Then there is the Alabama Tandem Weekend. That might be a chance to meet some people to do some tandem rides with. Since we have no folks up here who ride and no one we think might ever get involved, we would be lucky to find some folks who might meet us for rides. I can really feel the heavy weight of the old ta

44 days till Safari . Today was a beautiful spring day. Bev and I rode 27 miles. I rode 27 yesterday with Paul and 23 with Bev the day before. I may be needing a break from it soon but we have to make up for lost time since February was so cold. It is nice to get out riding without all the cold weather gear. Paul says he will join us tomorrow morning. He had to miss this morning's ride. I think we will ride every day over the next week or so. I am tired tonight but I can already sense the gain in strength. Bev is happy because she can get a little more food on those days. I think she understands completely why I seem "obsessive" about riding. Sara is having her friends over for supper with Grammy tonight. This is a good chance for her to meet Trent. Sara is worried about Jennifer. It will all be ok. Everything usually works out ok. I have a little cough left over from the throat thing but it may be due to pollens than the former illness. Daylight savings time is coming

45 days to Safari . I finally got to ride today. I went 27 miles with Richmond and Paul. I was still a bit tired from the severe infection but I managed it. Now I am at work and a little tired. Tomorrow morning Bev and I will ride a loop down toward Fayetteville. I think it is supposed to be even warmed than today. It looks like good riding every day thru Monday! That's a change. A very welcome change. I heard from Mike today. He and Mitzi are getting in some significant miles. They should be ready for the Safari. He mentioned Howard in his email and how he missed him. We will have to raise a toast to him. He was an inspiration. I had some quality time with my baby girl today. She sat and lay her head on my shoulder while we talked about her Grandpa Pat and other family stuff. It sure is nice to have her back. I missed my little girl. Mike mentioned how things get better as time goes by, mostly. Who knows, he might be right

47 days to Safari . I really hate being sick. I think this is the worst I've been sick in many years. I think the worst of it is the loss of rest. I am very tired from fighting it. Tonight I read that the Safari is sold out. The six day part is sold out! That means lots more folks than in the previous 2 years. I walked over to the spinning class. Bev, Johnny, and Kathy were there. Little Tim paid for his suspension fork. I heard that Melissa, Sara and Sarah rode 50 miles this past weekend. They are really getting to it. I am impressed. Arnold called tonight. I think he is interested in the daytime job here at Coosa. We talked about what the job would be for a few minutes. He mentioned that he would loathe to leave my Sara behind to deal with the floater pharmacists and the mess they would bring. He is anything if not loyal.

48 days to Safari . Bev and I did a 23 mile ride yesterday despite it being windy. I have been suffering from a severe cold but was glad to get out and do some riding. It was unfortunate to have been working Wednesday which was by far the best day for a long ride of the entire week. We have much riding to do before the Safari. We are both a bit out of shape for it. There has been no good ongoing chances to build up endurance. Today it is in the 20's and it isn't expected to warm very much with a cool breeze. We will have to see if it is worth dressing up warmly and riding.

50 days till Safari. I worked 2 days this week for Wal-Mart. I was juiced again. After some really tiring days I went to Homewood and found a pharmacy that hadn't been updated. Messy. We didn't have enough folks to get the work done. The second day would have been better but we had tornadoes coming through so everyone got their rx filled that morning when it was just me and Jennifer. Back at Coosa, Mr. Woosley announced he is leaving, Shirley and Lorraine are retiring and Shelly has gone to part time. I don't know what it will all mean but it no doubt means a lot more work for the rest of us.