So it's been a couple of years since my last post. Riding my bike has still been a main stay in my life. Last week it was crazy beautiful and perfect riding weather.


Unfortunately I seem to be having some issues with my shoulder so no riding. Now it's rainy crappy weather and well my shoulder still hurts. Think I'll just have to "ride through it". This summer I hope to go on some longer rides going on different trails. That being the case I need to start doing longer rides.
I read a poem that Nikki Giovanni wrote about biking. She feels that riding a bike is a metaphor for life. Riding a bike is about balance and trust. If you want to read more refer to the interview with Bill Moyers.
I loved the poem.



"Midnight poems are bicycles


Taking us on safer journeys

Than jets

Quicker journeys

Than walking

But never as beautiful

A journey

As my back

Touching you under the quilt



"Midnight poems

Sing a sweet song

Saying everything

Is all right



"Everything

Is

Here for us

I reach out

To catch the laughter



"The dog thinks

I need a kiss



"Bicycles move

With the flow

Of the earth

Like a cloud

So quiet

In the October sky

Like licking ice cream

From a cone

Like knowing you

Will always

Be there



"All day long I wait

For the sunset



"The first star

The moon rise



"I move

To a midnight

Poem

Called

You

Propping

Against

The dangers"

a thousand miles begins with a single ride

Well today about 4 o'clock I finally met my goal of a thousand miles for this year. I went back and read the blogs. The ebb and flow of the blogs coinciding with my job. I am so glad I kept a record of the rides.( Thank you Steve I would not have kept track of the rides in a blog and some days even riding period without your pushing me!) And thank you to my sister Liz and her husband Dennis and really all my family and friends for being awsome cheerleaders. As I read I relived the rides and it felt like flashes of my year unwinding before me. Some rides were glorious others were funny some were bittersweet. Like my life I guess a smattering of the good and not so good. We go on in spite of the crappy weather and disappointments because of those days when our soul shouts out "I am blessed to be alive at this very moment".



I rode on the trail today and as usual it was lovely. Hard to believe it's the first of October and we are having 80 degree days. It some what makes up for the nasty rainy windy June. A few weeks ago Steve on I went on a trip through the Bitterroot Mountains to walk in the the footsteps of Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce Indians at the exact same day 205 years ago to the day(Steve's bucket list) . We traveled along three different rivers,the Clearwater, Selway and the Lochsa. Having made a stop at a museum we saw a " boat", a canoe made of a single log similar to the one that Lewis and Clark rode in their final journey to the Pacific Coast. Now what do you say does that have to do with today's ride? Well at Mirabeau a bunch of Kayakers got out of the river . For some reason I thought of that wild and necessary ride of Lewis and Clark. Today we do not have to travel in the river and for that matter even close to it to get to our destinations. Yet we are drawn to the river. It feeds our modern need to feel connected to nature. A river that gave this area life long before we arrived. It has fed my soul for the last 9 months and given birth to hope and health.

980 and counting

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?

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.

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.

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.

810...

Today I crossed over the 800 mark so yea!
Started out a little late today on account of a new software program that I downloaded yesterday so I got sidetracked.
It was overcast so I thought it wont be hot as blue blazes however clouds can be deceiving.
Hmm well maybe I'll just do a little 10 mile ride today. Then I got to cruising along and I saw the man with the the name tag, friendly lady with the aging wiener dog and the cute couple who walk every day and of course assorted speedy bikers in spandex. and the next thing you know I was at Argonne trail head for a potty break.
The hot sun makes the pine trees smell lovely. The katydids are singing their last song of summer and I got to thinking about the spandex crowd. I admit I am jealous of their skinny toned bodies and even their speed. Do I want to be that skinny and fast some day?Yea I want I want to be that skinny and fast !
But for now I am glad that I have had the chance to ride along the river and experience the transformation that the seasons have created along the trail. Most of the people on the trail are happy to be there and their friendly ways make me feel glad to be alive. Even the ones that are obnoxious like the spandex crowd and the ones that just can't wrap their head around the whole notion of share the trail or stay to the right I enjoy. It's like life really. A mixed bag the teaches us patience and forces us to laugh at the oddities of humanity.

190 miles to go. I hope that I make a 1000 by the start of school that would be just too cool however I don't know if I will make it due to getting ready for school and a visit to Bellingham next week.

what love is?

Today is Sunday and church day . I called my sister on the way to the trail and she wondered if I was going to church and I had to say no. While I felt bad I think the experience on the trail was spiritual in nature. While riding I got to thinking about what love is. This is what I discovered on the trail today.

I ran into Ken and Randy who are friends. We cross country ski together. They had already gone a bazillion miles. We chatted for awhile and went on our separate ways. I am way too slow and don't ride as many miles as those boys do to ride with them. It was fun chatting with them anyways. Friendship is a kind of love.

As I got closer to Mirabeau Park I looked for this elderly couple. They are there almost every day.She has obviously had a stroke of some kind. She and I assume her husband walk along together. I have seen him drop something and have her pick it up. I am thinking this is part of her physical rehab. They could just stay home in their recliners and yet they are out here pushing back the effects of age and physical pain. Their commitment to each other and life is love.

When I got to the parking lot at Mirabeau I saw I'm thinking a young dad and three kids with backpacks heading down a trail to the river. Taking time to show your kids the beauty of the river and just hanging with them is love.

I pass a young women who is guiding another elderly women who again show signs of some kind of physical aliment. On the way back I hear her encouraging this person and that it is love.

At the second parking lot by Mirabeau I see signs and blue star balloons and a "start" sign. I groan a little and then I realize it is a walk in support of Wishing Star. It is due to start soon. One hundred walkers who could be at the lake or home reading the Sunday paper but they are here in support of a wonderful organization that changes lives and that is love.

Across the river I can hear a cheering crowd. It is a soccer tournament and those shouts are from family and friends of those kids. Again people who made the choice to come encourage their kids instead of some other activity that might be more appealing than a long soccer game in the hot sun and that is love.

There was a high school band playing at the river by Plants Ferry park and who knows what that was about but it added to that whole feeling that life is meant to be shared and celebrated.

On my way back from the Argonne trail head I am heading up a steep hill ( at least for me it is) As I get just pass the top a man comes by on his bike and says "good job" and smiles. Did he see me struggle up the hill ? I don't know but he did not have to say a thing and the fact that someone took the time to encourage a stranger is an act of love.

I have talked about all the wonderful nature that I have so enjoyed encountering on the trail but today it was all about humanity and hope and love. In the days ahead I will encounter people who make me cranky and frustrate me. In the back of my head I want to remember this Sunday ride and how hopeful it made me feel.

Eight Lakes Leg Aches Ride

So yesterday was the 8 lakes Leg Aches ride. A little history three years ago Steve and I were helpers as in not riders. This ride supports one of my favorite non profits Lutheran Social Services Northwest. An organization making a huge difference in Spokane and the Inland Northwest. Last year I rode the 30 miles section and it was super fun. But I was only riding about 10 mile rides at that point in my bike riding life. So needless to say my legs and other parts hurt ....a lot.
This year I have been riding a little more and I was not nearly as fatigued or sore as last year. I made it up most hills but did walk it up a few. My Granny gear is stupid and not effective at all. The fact is that I am 100 pounds over weight and that makes hills icky for me. Next year however I expect to be roaring up those hills. Last year Matt my son rode with me and that was super fun. This year my awesome sister was back riding and that was just too amazing for words. Steve my man rode with me to make sure I was safe and sound. Thanks honey!
My new seat is super sweet and again a big shout out to Steve 's bike shop on Cannon street in Brown's Addition. You rock!
720 miles yes

680 woo hoo

Monday morning and I am on my bike. I had to ride from my house as my 4 wheeled transportation is having a few issues. The ride was uneventful although when I stopped half way I answered my phone and chatted it up. Do not answer phone on trail unless it seems like an emergency.
OK that said my plan to ride every day this week has been forestalled as I have to have a colonoscopy Thursday. Apparently this is a two day event thus I will not be riding until Friday. Then the 8 Lakes ride is Saturday.

660 which is not 700

So I have been a little slow getting back in the saddle some of it weather related and some life related! Tuesday I did a twenty mile ride and saw a coyote on the trail. We did this funny who are you back and forth and finally I took his picture. What a fun way to end that ride.

Wednesday I went on a ride with my friend Sue on the Fish Lake trail 10 miles.

Thursday was my physical and my new Doctor wants me to get fitted on my bike and bring the handle bars up. My problem is I do not want to have my bike back in the shop,that week off was costly.

This week I am going to ride each day. I really need to do some hill work as 8 Lakes leg aches is next week and I know there are some killer hills. yish

So today Steve and I went on the trail and it was nice and we added another 20 miles.

oh and I am old. I have to do stretches now before and after each ride so My head and neck do not spaz out.

"Back in the saddle again"

I'm back in the saddle again. That's right picked Gertie up Friday. New seat, brakes,gel tape and general fix ups . That Steve on Cannon street rocks! The week off was necessary as I had some major weird physical issues head aches numbness in hands and a little dizzy.
Brains good, neck has some osteo arthritis. Will check on nerve damage on the 6Th. Still I am going to do physical therapy and keep riding.

Steve and I started out early 7:30 -8 ish. We headed toward Post Falls and came back on the trail and then zigged zagged our way home through Otis Orchards. about 15 miles altogether. I was such a slow mo on the first leg I felt I was ninety going 9 miles an hour felt difficult which is crazy. By the time we got home it was already getting hot!

My plan is to ride at least 20 miles a day and be at 700 miles by the weekend. I will need to go early as it heats up fast!

Check out this great MSN Video: Librarians Go Gaga

Check out this great MSN Video: Librarians Go Gaga

Tailwinds Forever

Since the last I blogged I have gone on two 30 mile bike rides with a twenty thrown in for good measure.
Yesterday My sister and her husband Dennis and I went on the Fish Lake trail all the way to Cheney. It was so fun. Of course there was the slight heads winds and then there was a slight and then not so slight up hill. I kept looking at the speedometer thinking we should be going faster! Once we got to the end of the trail I teased Dennis the end of the trail is the first food stop on the Eight Lakes Leg Aches ride in August! What no food! On the way back as we passed Fish Lake there was a Blue Heron right on the trail it took off just as we approached. So graceful!

Ah the road home tailwinds and speedometers that were 15- 19 miles per hour much better and so very fun.

Now my bike has needed a little tune up for while I needed a new seat and I wanted to get this gel tape put on the handle bars to help with the numbing in my hands. So my brother in law "suggested" this new bike shop that had just opened. Thus my sweet bike is in the shop for a week. Hmmm you don't suppose they had an ulterior motive? Like maybe trying to catch up with me?Let em try I say I will be on on Gertie in no time.

510 yes!

Today I made it past 500 and am now at 510. I got a late start so although I wanted to go 30 miles today I only did 20. A month ago I was averaging between 10- 15 miles so I have stepped it up some. I feel stronger. I just look forward to some different rides maybe I will try to do the trail of the CouerD'Alenes this week. Would love to do at least one 30 mile ride a week.

I need to start earlier. I was indulging in my drug of choice ....reading, got too involved in this book and could not put it down. I think this book will be the children's choice winner for the Sasquatch award.

500 miles is looking pretty close...

So on Monday I rode from Harvard road to Argonne and added 20 miles. The two hour bike rides burn about 1200 in calories which is awsome. It is a long rode.

I just did another 20 so I am at 490. 500 by Monday at least. With this hot weather I have to ride early in the am. It was beautiful and not too hot. However there were a lot of kids on the trail with their moms and dads. Never too early to teach stay to the right!

My plan is to bike on Monday Wednesday Friday and at least one if not both days on the weekend. Last Tuesday a friend called to invite me to go kayaking my other favorite thing to do .

I just could not resist so no biking on last Wednesday.

447 and the 4th

Today My sister Liz, brother in law Dennis and I rode from Heyburn park to Harrison Idaho well actually Springington trail head which is about 3 miles further. The ride was breathtakingly beautiful. The day was over cast and I thought I would be cold because of the wind. But I took off my jacket after a bit. We stopped at Harrison to listen to a song as there was a band playing.
This trail is very special as it changes from going along the lake to a more wetlands area. We did not do the big hill to Plumber but next time I want to do that. Hills and I are not compatible yet. The pace was between 12 and14 miles an hour which is good for me. I had heard about the heads winds and was relieved that it did not get too bad until right before the bridge and we were almost back to the car by then.
The entire trail is 70 some miles long. I would love to do the whole thing or in parts this summer.
I am feeling so blessed to have this trail as well as the Centennial Trail so close.
My goal is to try to do 75- 100 miles a week throughout the summer.
According to my pyramid.gov I burned 875 calories in one hour and this ride took two hours so maybe some of that stupid weight will start to come off.

425

Today I rode from Harvard road to Mirabeau. The ride was uneventful. I am trying to increase my pace. Yesterday I went to the gym as it was rainy and nasty. I did 30 minute intervals on the treadmill and the bike and then swam for half an hour. I also discovered that I have gained 20 pounds since March, the trainer at the gym asked if I wanted to have my body fat index done . I had to say no to that as I didn't think I could take more happy news. Suffice to say I am completely annoyed with myself.
I have been reading all these books about exercise and the brain and how aerobic exercise makes you smarter. I can only hope.
I know that exercise tends to lift my spirits but it does not take away fundamental sadness.

410 and June 30th

Yesterday my sister Liz and I met at Harvard road and road to the Post Falls Dam. It was a pretty ride though not as pretty as the Washington Side. We rode about 20 miles which puts me at 410.
Quite a ways to go but I am making significant progress. Liz has decided to try and get to a thousand miles this year. We have such a good time riding together although we do get a little side tracked visiting.
She thinks I should keep track of the critters I have seen on the rides
Here is a list thus far
herd of buffalo
deer
Snakes Garter and other scary one....
Birds ...all kinds 2 goldfinch for sure
squirrels
chipmunks
quail = really dumb birds
Turkeys
and last but not least a baby skunk


Today I took the day off but I will be back tomorrow rain or shine.

Weird Cosmic Adventures

So I woke up today thinking it was pay day and a good day to shop for a new bike rack and a lock and other bike accessories. However it was not payday. While checking email I heard the most god awful screeching and went outside to discover the dogs frothing at the mouth and had cornered what I thought was a squirrel turns out it was a marmot. After spending most of the morning dealing with the marmot I finally got to go for a ride. I took my little backpack and decided to mail the bills . Then head to the trail. While on the trail I nearly hit a small rat sized dog. Apparently the owners who were busy sun bathing and must hate this poor creature as one they let it swim in a rushing river and two they did not notice when it headed for the trail and nearly became one with my bike! I took this as an omen and headed back home. As I was whipping along Wellesley I glanced over and against the gold and green grasses is a skunk a baby skunk who apparently had not developed his skunk skills and as I rode by he lifted his tail without spraying me. What did I do? Supper intelligent move I swerved onto the rode to avoid getting "skunked".

The question is smelly or dead? The other day I mentioned that not wearing a helmet caused bad choices my excuse today? Not sure just glad I made it home. Oh I am officially at 405 miles!