So it was another 80 degree Fall day. Most unnatural for this particular season of mostly rainy weather. Everything is still growing and blooming . Well maybe not as gang busters as say the middle of August. I'm like those plants struggling to eek out the fruits of this lovely weather and yes I am moving slower and don't quite have the pace of those summer rides but I am still riding. I remember those spring posts where I stated that I would never ride in the wind and today friends to quote Christopher Robin was "blustery". I said that I was strictly a fair weather rider. So the closer you get to the goal of a 1000 miles and the waning days of really great weather and it is a whole new ball game. Hard as it is to ride after work the thought of winter and no riding spurred me on. After I got out of the car and was nearly blown over I started taking off my helmet and then caught myself. So even though it was only ten miles it was a blustery one.
Now that I have ridden from 4- 6 ish I have encountered the "evening regulars" on the trail and it almost makes up for missing the morning folks. But not quite.
I am thinking about the last 20 miles and wondering where it will be and how I will feel when I reach that milestone?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Fall serenity
So last week I got in two rides one on Wednesday. I canceled physical therapy and chose not to got to an evening meeting. The ride was lovely as usual. The closer you get to sundown the more of those nasty no sees ums come out and some have definitely ended up in my nose and ears. It is all good however. I am so close to my goal of a 1000 miles. Every bit of my life is scheduled now so although the end goal is still ever present the therapeutic nature of the rides are exemplified.This ride added 16 miles and that put me at 942.
This weekend was so freaking beautiful. Saturday I had a class in the morning and my "plan' was to ride on the trail towards Post Falls due to all the action on the trail towards town after the class that is. Well my bike tires needed air and I ran out of timeas I needed to get to the class. Steve wanted to head downtown to Spokane Oktoberfest.So I thought well I wont get a ride in today. So I took my time visiting with friends something have not done enough of lately. Got home at 2 ish and a change in plans. Which is fine. I ended up on the trail to Post Falls. It was nice. It is not my favorite part of the Centennial Trail. But it was interesting to see the progress on the two major construction projects by our house. My sister and her husband rode from Post Falls to Coeur D' Alene and I wish I could have gone with them.
The cool thing that happened on this ride was that I rode right past a coyote on the trail . Four feet away. This is the second time that has happened since I have been riding in the same place.
How do I explain these encounters? I rode past a few feet and then paused and turned to look. I got the feeling he was thinking friend? or foe? dinner? I just marvel at these creatures. I did not feel threatened at all as there was no growling or menacing moves on the coyote's part. It was all just about being curious ...who are you or better yet what are you?
This ride put me at 955.
All week long the weather promises to be "summer like" I only have stuff scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. So today I added another 15 which puts me at 970.
I had non stop classes today and three of them were definitely challenging ones. So the ride was especially lovely. Am already worried about those nasty cold days where I will be unable to ride. Need a plan.
1000 miles are so very close.
This weekend was so freaking beautiful. Saturday I had a class in the morning and my "plan' was to ride on the trail towards Post Falls due to all the action on the trail towards town after the class that is. Well my bike tires needed air and I ran out of timeas I needed to get to the class. Steve wanted to head downtown to Spokane Oktoberfest.So I thought well I wont get a ride in today. So I took my time visiting with friends something have not done enough of lately. Got home at 2 ish and a change in plans. Which is fine. I ended up on the trail to Post Falls. It was nice. It is not my favorite part of the Centennial Trail. But it was interesting to see the progress on the two major construction projects by our house. My sister and her husband rode from Post Falls to Coeur D' Alene and I wish I could have gone with them.
The cool thing that happened on this ride was that I rode right past a coyote on the trail . Four feet away. This is the second time that has happened since I have been riding in the same place.
How do I explain these encounters? I rode past a few feet and then paused and turned to look. I got the feeling he was thinking friend? or foe? dinner? I just marvel at these creatures. I did not feel threatened at all as there was no growling or menacing moves on the coyote's part. It was all just about being curious ...who are you or better yet what are you?
This ride put me at 955.
All week long the weather promises to be "summer like" I only have stuff scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. So today I added another 15 which puts me at 970.
I had non stop classes today and three of them were definitely challenging ones. So the ride was especially lovely. Am already worried about those nasty cold days where I will be unable to ride. Need a plan.
1000 miles are so very close.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I never regret....
I went 15 miles on labor day and kayaked with Steve in the afternoon on the river. Double whammy fun and then a family dinner. Labor day was packed with FUN. that put me at 901 yahoo!
Which brings me to this last weekend.
Matt my son came home and we ended up going on the Hiawatha Trail with my sister Liz and her husband, Dennis his daughter Sasha and granddaughter Taylor , my sister's son Bryan and his wife Charlotte and the youngest member of our group Bry and Char's son Reese. It was glorious. The ride is really all about the scenic vistas that truly take your breathe away. It was my second time on the trail and the first time through the mile long long tunnel. It was Taylor's first long ride, Bryan, Charlotte, Reese, and Sasha had not been on this historic and breathe takingly beautiful trail. It boggles the mind when you think about cutting through these mountains on a bike and all the lives that were lost to create this railroad track and then the genius in reusing this unused rail bed as a bike trail. I wonder what some of these old timers in the pictures on the trail would think of it's current use? Today I feel blessed that we had this opportunity to ride through this mountain and see a world we might have never seen. Which brings me to two "old timers" with out which I would have not been able to ride. First Steve who put my tires on my old cross bike and got down and filled up Matt's tires. And of course Dennis who loaded up 6 bikes and organized this ride for our family. Lots of stress getting all the schedules worked out but I hope he feels loved and appreciated by all the family, It was his and Liz's dream to organize a ride on this trail. Who knows next time we might have the whole Mahar, McGaughy , Davis family.
Which brings me to today. I rode another 10 miles which puts me at 926. It is hard to do the big 20 miles rides these days. I average about 10- 12 miles an hour. I was thinking tonight of all the time I have spent on the trail. Roughly 92 hours since January. I started thinking about regrets. Mostly what I do not regret. This is my list:
I do not regret planting flowers the roses bloomed only once but they were lovely.
I do not regret any bike rides. All of that time made me feel full, of life, of hope.
I never regret any time I spend with people I love. No matter how busy I am those moments with family and friends are precious.
Was I being productive or useful or creating something while riding? I don't know but I know that I see the world differently and every time I ride alone or with people I breathe easier and a new layer has been added to my life.
Which brings me to this last weekend.
Matt my son came home and we ended up going on the Hiawatha Trail with my sister Liz and her husband, Dennis his daughter Sasha and granddaughter Taylor , my sister's son Bryan and his wife Charlotte and the youngest member of our group Bry and Char's son Reese. It was glorious. The ride is really all about the scenic vistas that truly take your breathe away. It was my second time on the trail and the first time through the mile long long tunnel. It was Taylor's first long ride, Bryan, Charlotte, Reese, and Sasha had not been on this historic and breathe takingly beautiful trail. It boggles the mind when you think about cutting through these mountains on a bike and all the lives that were lost to create this railroad track and then the genius in reusing this unused rail bed as a bike trail. I wonder what some of these old timers in the pictures on the trail would think of it's current use? Today I feel blessed that we had this opportunity to ride through this mountain and see a world we might have never seen. Which brings me to two "old timers" with out which I would have not been able to ride. First Steve who put my tires on my old cross bike and got down and filled up Matt's tires. And of course Dennis who loaded up 6 bikes and organized this ride for our family. Lots of stress getting all the schedules worked out but I hope he feels loved and appreciated by all the family, It was his and Liz's dream to organize a ride on this trail. Who knows next time we might have the whole Mahar, McGaughy , Davis family.
Which brings me to today. I rode another 10 miles which puts me at 926. It is hard to do the big 20 miles rides these days. I average about 10- 12 miles an hour. I was thinking tonight of all the time I have spent on the trail. Roughly 92 hours since January. I started thinking about regrets. Mostly what I do not regret. This is my list:
I do not regret planting flowers the roses bloomed only once but they were lovely.
I do not regret any bike rides. All of that time made me feel full, of life, of hope.
I never regret any time I spend with people I love. No matter how busy I am those moments with family and friends are precious.
Was I being productive or useful or creating something while riding? I don't know but I know that I see the world differently and every time I ride alone or with people I breathe easier and a new layer has been added to my life.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
long time no see
So it looks like I have not been doing a very good job blogging. However I have some good excuses.
August is back to school time with classes and getting the library ready and I took a trip to Bellingham to celebrate my sister's 60th birthday and my niece's wedding shower.
So let's see I have had some fun rides since I last blogged. On the second to the last Saturday I went on the Fish Lake Trail with my sister Liz, my friends Carol and Bob and my friend Drew.
Carol and Bob were worried about their mountain bikes being too slow and they .... kicked mine and Drew's butts! That was 15 miles
Then I went on one last sort of sad ride on the last Wednesday of August on the trail. Yes I should have been at school but this was going to be the last time I could ride during the week and see all the "regulars"before going back to school.
This going back to school week was stressful and I did not get to ride until Friday and had two major crying jags. I REALLY NEED TO EXERCISE! So Friday in spite of wanting to go straight home and drink a glass of wine I got on my bike for a short 15 mile ride. Bringing my total last night to 860.
Today however Steve and I went on one of the most beautiful parts of the Trail of the CouerD'Alenes. We started at Rose Lake and went about 13 miles towards Harrison. The weather was lovely as we started early so the crazy wind that is currently raging had not started.
What I loved about this ride: It is flat and the scenery is lush and breath taking. It was a new part of the trail that I had not been on. We saw a moose and a bald eagle , and blue heron adding to my list of critters I have encountered while riding my bike.
That brings my total to 886 and I am definitely closing in on a thousand miles. Next week we might be going on the Hiawatha Trail and Matt will be here so it will be fun to ride with him.
August is back to school time with classes and getting the library ready and I took a trip to Bellingham to celebrate my sister's 60th birthday and my niece's wedding shower.
So let's see I have had some fun rides since I last blogged. On the second to the last Saturday I went on the Fish Lake Trail with my sister Liz, my friends Carol and Bob and my friend Drew.
Carol and Bob were worried about their mountain bikes being too slow and they .... kicked mine and Drew's butts! That was 15 miles
Then I went on one last sort of sad ride on the last Wednesday of August on the trail. Yes I should have been at school but this was going to be the last time I could ride during the week and see all the "regulars"before going back to school.
This going back to school week was stressful and I did not get to ride until Friday and had two major crying jags. I REALLY NEED TO EXERCISE! So Friday in spite of wanting to go straight home and drink a glass of wine I got on my bike for a short 15 mile ride. Bringing my total last night to 860.
Today however Steve and I went on one of the most beautiful parts of the Trail of the CouerD'Alenes. We started at Rose Lake and went about 13 miles towards Harrison. The weather was lovely as we started early so the crazy wind that is currently raging had not started.
What I loved about this ride: It is flat and the scenery is lush and breath taking. It was a new part of the trail that I had not been on. We saw a moose and a bald eagle , and blue heron adding to my list of critters I have encountered while riding my bike.
That brings my total to 886 and I am definitely closing in on a thousand miles. Next week we might be going on the Hiawatha Trail and Matt will be here so it will be fun to ride with him.
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