Taking a rest...

The tandem wasn’t ready yesterday so we didn’t have it for riding this morning. This will be the first day in 2 weeks I haven’t ridden. I think I need a rest. Yesterday we rode a very fast ride down to Fayetteville. I cruised as fast as I could but wasn’t far ahead of the group. Without getting some routine rest, I haven’t advanced as much as I would have thought. Bev and I will ride in the century at Montgomery Saturday. This will be her first organized event. Although we plan on riding only 30 miles, she will get to see what it is all about. Having that many people riding along with us may be a bit uncomfortable for us. I say us because although I’ve ridden with lots of folks, the tandem doesn’t maneuver as quickly and you can get some bad moments. I think it will be a blast. There is always the chance of meeting some like minded folks. Having breakfast prepared and snacks along the way is always nice. Then to finish up with ice-cream, yum!

 

 

Uncle Jean

I just heard that Uncle Jean had to be coded. He has been in Brookwood for the past week after having chest pains that resulted in quadruple bypass surgery. He hasn't been doing so well. He has had a lot of pain and recently had to have a temporary pacemaker installed. I first heard the news that he had coded and we don't know if they can get him back. Then about 20 minutes later, word came that they had a successful code and he was stable.

Bev rides another loop...

This morning Bev and I posted a ride for anyone to join us on a short slower ride. There weren't any takers but we met up with a nice couple just before Sycamore. We stopped and talked about the bike club and getting them to join in. Then we traveled on to the Tallasahatchee Creek Baptist Church and back home via Twin Street. This made about an 18 mile loop route for her. This is the second such route she has done. All in all she is doing well. I complimented her on how stable she was coming up the hills. She was rock steady in balance. We just have 5 days left to get ready for the century. I was planning on giving her Friday off before the century that morning. I might just let her do a short ride to limber up the legs. Down Oden's Mill and back should do it. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday have to go a little farther. I am thinking down to Fayetteville and around Cedar Creek to get the length up to the Century. But then again, it just might make her hind end too sore. I might should stick with the 20 mile rides until the century is done.

It might be an early wake-up, but perhaps some of us can stop and have a good meal that afternoon. As it stands right now, I think everyone is gonna drive down that morning. With so many of them wanting to get back for church, I doubt there will be someone staying the night. Especially since it is Montgomery. If we can get showered up, maybe we could do a little shopping. I think Bev will really enjoy the event. I am hoping we get in a group of folks we can tag along with and chat. It makes the miles pass and distracts you from the suffering it takes to get over the hills.

I think we will get to ride with the club on Monday night. I might ought to set up a club meeting for some night this week. I also need to get all my time trial folks together for a quick set-up meeting. The really great news this week is the high interest the Mayor has in creating a mountain bike trail.

Living in the moment...

Today I was standing on a street corner in downtown Sylacauga looking back toward the north and trying to see my little world through the eyes of a writer. I think that after seeing that part of the world day after day for my life, I tend to ignore the details and keep in my mind an image of what I think that world looks like. I don't glorify the images. I tend to see the ugly if you want to know the truth. I see the garbage on the streets. The stains on the buildings and the stunted, brown dying vegetation that grows in vacant lots. I see trees that once were the glory of our town that have reached the limits of time and will soon die out. But that isn't fair to all that is there. It is just my discriminating eye that picks out the worst. I was trying today to see the town "for what it is". I am trying to live in the moment. To some degree I succeeded. I had another moment like that as I rode home on the scooter last night. The streets of town were deserted. At the intersection of Norton and Fort Williams, an armadillo was trundling down the road. Since there was only one mini-van on the streets at the time, he was able to cross the road and make his way to who knows where. But is was interesting to find the little devil there in the middle of town. I hope I can practice this exercise again tonight. Bev and I have our anniversary today. We both had to work. But I have some champagne at the house and we will toast our 26th year of marriage tonight. Then we will get some much appreciated sleep.

Our Anniversary...

It is the occasion of our 26th wedding anniversary. Last year we were on a cruise to the Caribbean. This year, we just returned from Navarre Beach Florida so I guess that will have to do. Bev works at Citizens. I am working at Coosa. She will probably be asleep when I come home. I will probably be asleep when she leaves in the morning. I should be able to slip a note into her car for her to discover on her way to work. I might have time to look for her a little surprise for tomorrow night. I really don't know what to get her for this anniversary. I think the most suitable gift will be a promise of an evening out come next week when we are both off to enjoy it.

Mother and Bev went to Brookwood and saw Uncle Jean today. He looks wan and pale. I suppose that someone who was enduring chest pains due to blockages might have a right to look frail. This year was a milestone. 75 years of age. I don't think he ever believed he would live that long. Dad has been gone since 1984. So at the time, he was a young 53. Here I am a young 50 now. It seems very young. But dividing the life span into thirds, it seems for most of us that you have 25 years of growing up, then 25 years of being an adult, then 25 years old getting old. But lives like Dad and David and others show us that there is no guarantee. Any day might be the last. The next sharp pain might be the harbinger of doom. But as the quote says, all we have is this moment.

Return from Navarre Beach

Our vacation to Florida is over. David had a wonderful time playing in the sand. Navarre Beach was as beautiful as we remember. Now it is back to work for another year. But that is ok since life holds more things we are doing. I have missed our tandem rides.

While we were there, we visited the Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola. David really enjoyed the jets.

Navarre Beach...

Tomorrow we load up and head down to Navarre Beach for a week getaway. David, Chris and Nikki will be with us. It has been a while since we were there. Bev and I did a couple of trips over the past few years sans children. And year before last we carried David down to Fort Walton during February to get him on the beach. I am looking forward to seeing the little guy have fun. I am wondering how all of us will fare in close quarters for 7 days. I hope we can all just get along.

Also Bev and I have scheduled a bike ride for the morning and posted it for anyone interested in joining in. Last time it was only we two. If it is just us again, that's fine. We will make the loop down through Fayetteville for the first time. That will be a ride of 20 miles which will be Bev's longest ever. The long downhill should help make up for the distance. And when we are done, we come back and pack the car for our trip. We will grab a lunch along the way.

Bev loses 4 lbs...

Cycling has its benefits. We have always understood that any weight loss program involved calories restriction AND exercise. The problem with exercise is finding that something that you will do enough of to meet your goals. For me, cycling fits that bill. I don't know if I love it that much or just the simple fact that 30 minutes of riding takes me far enough from home that I have to continue for 30 more just to get home. It gets the job done! SO now after riding for a while and getting on the weight loss wagon for the past 7 months, I am almost there. But I have wondered what I could do to get Bev to make that trip with me. Now I know. We have a tandem bike. Where I go, she goes. One benefit is weight loss for her. This past week she lost 4 lbs. I believe that the first 20 lbs that come off will really inspire her. Who knows what will happen from there. There are other benefits already. We have time together almost every morning. We have grown closer. We have time to converse. We share in an activity. It is almost like we are a young couple just discovering one another again. She is proud of her gains in conditioning and weight loss. SO am I.

Fall Creek Falls

Bev and I hiked and biked at Fall Creek Falls. We were there during record high temps. It took us a day or two but we finally discovered that we were in the middle of the best area for the hikes and bike route. There was a perfect loop around the lake we discovered the last day. I think she will be ready for riding Cades Cove soon. We are also going to go ride the century in Montgomery. I plan for us to do the 30 mile option.

I was riding yesterday after having ridden daily for 2 weeks. I felt tired on the ride and didn't perform up to usual. I think I should rest for a day and be ready to ride with Bev Monday morning. Our last ride was a loop ride from the Airport down to Oden's Mill Road and home. It was only 15 miles but Bev handled it fine. The next milestone should be the Fayetteville loop.