Inclines: Part 2

I rode all the way on my bike today.   NO getting off.  Ok - well I did get off the 2 times my water bottle dropped out of my bike shirt so I did have to get it.  (Don't have the water bottle or holder yet).  And then I stopped 1 time to get a fresh peach from a local farmstand.  I could have gotten more at the 3 other stands I passed on my route.  It was a great day to ride.  I'm not sure how far I went but it was in the 15 mile zone.  The best part for me today was that the 2 places I had to walk on Monday I didn't have to today.  Now, it could be because it was cooler, I took a different route or it was earlier in the day but regardless, I was able to ride up those babies and not fall over and not get out of the saddle.  (Although I wouldn't mind a different saddle...I like the big comfy ones...)  It took about an hour and a half.

The only negative to today's ride was something that sadly occurs on most rides.  The litter which is EVERYWHERE.  WHY do people feel it's ok to throw their debris out of their cars as they go on?  I mean - really?!!? You can't wait until you get to the next gas station or HOME to throw out your junk?  It is a thorn in my side.  Not that I agonize over this...other things yes, not this.  But 2 weeks ago I saw a little boy litter - right in front of his dad as they walked out of the dollar store and his dad didn't say word one to him.  I had T pick it up to throw out when she went to work.  I thought that perhaps dad would get the hint since it was pretty obvious that she was picking up the kid's mess.  Well, apparently it didn't phase him at all since I saw little boy drop the rest of the toy packaging in the parking lot as they walked to their car.  Now, I don't usually do things like this - at least not with strangers but I stopped my car, walked over to their car and knocked on the window.  I wasn't loud or violent - I just knocked on the window and said to dad, "your little boy dropped this" and pointed to the litter.  He opened the window and the little boy held out his hand.  I said "sorry hon, it isn't ok to litter" and then got back in my car.  I know it was risky, and it wasn't my intention to scare the kid but I get so fed up with people who litter as if the world was there own personal trash receptacle.  I think I may have written about this during C2C 2008 as I'm sure I saw quite a bit of litter but it still doesn't cease to amaze me.  Dad always said leave a place better than you find it...cleaner, more orderly, whatever was needed. This was reinforced at Camp Matollionequay where I spent 8 summers of my life and then the major reinforcement experience was via my drill sargeant at the Monmouth County Police Academy in Howell NJ.  We are all charged with the care and keeping of our world and if you see something out of place or that doesn't belong it behooves us (I love that word) to pick it up and throw it out. I always tell the kids that if they pick something up from off of the ground then they are responsible for it.  I don't push it when it comes to just seeing things otherwise all we would be doing is picking up litter but if you touch it, it's yours.

Well, it was a good ride and with another 15 miles under my belt, I'm on the way to making the goal of 1000 miles done before the trip next year.   A few miles at a time, I'll get there.  A few pieces of litter picked up and thrown away - it's that much better than it was 2 seconds before.

Inclines

I heard from someone recently about how he has a hard time getting up inclines.  Any grade of incline.  Doesn't matter if it's just a slight rise in the road...it becomes the Rockies.  I soooo identified.  That's what it's like for me when I ride.  I can ride for miles and miles, I can ride for miles and miles...oops - wrong song.... but I can ride for miles on flat, level terrain.  Put an anthill in the mix and forget it....I'm as winded as an old organ bellows gasping its last breath.  But tonight I rode up quite the steep grade on Gahbauer Road.  Gahbauer parallels our road but as you head onto it from Rt 217 you have reason to believe your bike will just keel over in an expression of sympathy with its rider.  That would be me.  Yet after an initial hesitation - I did have to unclip my pedal so I didn't in fact fall over sideways - I got back on and headed up what feels like the side of previously aforementioned Rocky Mountain.  And then I went on to find another really steep - going up into the air kind of feeling - not too far from the first one.  And I almost made it up.  It's been a while since I've done any up and up riding.  The kind that's like ALL UP  - on either side of the peak - so I have to say I was very happy with my attempt tonight.  I may have only gone about 3 or 4 miles but I really saw how much more improved I am at this point than I was even after riding the tour last time.

Well, as they say - "ain't no mountain high enough" to keep me, well in this case, to keep me from finishing what I have set out to do.  And that is to make a difference.  There will always be inclines  - obstacles and challenges put the point is to do the best one can and to make a difference, regardless of how one gets through the mountain to the other side.  And that's exactly the point.  The point is to get to the other side whether through, or around or over the top.  Who cares, as long as we don't stop....

2 outdoor days in a row - & 13+ miles today

Hot today...it was hot today.  I know, it's summer, it's supposed to be hot.  But there's hot, then there is h-o-t...and then there is biking around the county when it's h-o-t. I am happy to have been out there.  I even got a few more miles in than yesterday - although I have to figure out how many.  I probably should get an odometer so I can keep track.  I doubt I will be getting a blackberry, android or iphone any time soon so won't have the ability to get those cool apps that keep track of distance.  But, I did put in well over 13 miles, which is what I did yesterday.  Since I've ridden 2 straight days outside, I think I can really say now that official training for next year has begun.

Training - One O One - Don't FALL DOWN.

It's been a busy week nor did the weekend provide any real opportunity for slowing down.  There was a lot of work to be done on the farm and with Justin here (our 30 yr old) we are really beginning to make progress with all the projects.  However, he took a week to visit his sister in WA state...That did provide some relief as he doesn't believe in letting time get away without getting something accomplished.  He's more like the bikers (2008 ride) who got up, got on their bikes and got going as early in the morning as they possibly could and they didn't really slow down until reaching the next camp site.  Well, they did take breaks here and there at the occasional coffee shop or other colorful local eating establishment.  But then, after their moment of indulgences, they got back in the saddle and kept pushing those pedals until they reached our daily destination.  Well, he did the same thing so to speak - weeding, mucking and all those things that need to get done on the farm.  We even got a couple of workouts in as well.  I guess it was all good, because tonight after a full weekend of working and socializing I decided I needed to get a ride in as well. (Want to get my training miles in and also needed to work off the candy binge I indulged in thanks to a candy bar at yesterday's wedding).  It was almost 8 p.m when I set off - but still pretty light. Darn if 30 seconds into the ride I was down on the ground - in pain from landing on my wrist and jamming my elbow.  Dave walked out of the house just in time to see my "fall from grace" and he came right over to check things out.  So of course the first thing he asked was, "Does it hurt?"  Good thing I was crying somewhat or else my response would have been less than gracious.  But after a few tears and some tentative moving of my  wrist, I got up and hopped on the bike - putting in about 13 miles round trip.  I do have to be careful as about 3 miles into the ride, my right hand tingled and then got numb.  I know it's not from the fall as I've had this problem for several years now and I'm pretty sure the last bike trip didn't help.   Between the carpal tunnel and tendonitis, my right arm is a bit vulnerable so I hope I can figure something out by next year.  I got back just after dark and after putting the loose chickens back into their cage and closing the hen house up - my next step was to get into that shower and get the cold water running.  Well, it's time to finish up for the day...things are looking good as far as training.  Thank you B for my bike.  It makes a world of difference.

It's HOT today.  It's been HOT for several days.  A tree down the road has lost a good bunch of leaves.  They are piled up under the tree - crunchy and an far too early reminder that fall is not too far away.  And after fall, winter, then spring, the JUNE...time for riding C2C.  And all I can think about is the fact that it will be just as hot next year on the ride and I can all to clearly remember the heat from 2008.  Everyone had to experience it and it seems like some can just slough it off - but I HATE the heat.  Which is so ironic considering for a good portion of my life - I would happily lay outside in the sun - from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. going for the tanned leatherhide look.  (Ok, I didn't want to look like the Tanning Bed Mom but I definitely liked the tan rather than the pasty look).  And still love going to the beach.  But I was happy to have missed the 2 week period of riding through Kansas & Nebraska last time around as I heard the days hit 100 degrees with headwinds all the way. And prior to that, I would hide in the sliver of shade that a road side sign would create in order to convince myself that I could get cool.  The sight of me scrunching up under the sage bush also probably was somewhat amusing  - anything to get out of the blazing hot sun.  So now, as I try to fulfill my commitment to really getting ready for this ride, I am wrestling with the reality of the discomfort I will be facing both in practice and on the ride.  Lord - help me to push past the misery of sweat running down every inch of skin, into eyes and crevices as I prepare and then live through the actual ride.  Just sayin'  Thanks.

2013 C2C - Here I Come

I'm glad I named this blog Sea To Sea.  There have been several although I only participated in the 2008 ride - from Seattle to Jersey City.   There was a previous ride through Canada in 2006 and several shorter rides after 2008.  But a new one is underway and it is my hope/plan to participate.  This time I have the right bike.  Thanks to a dear friend, I now own that most important piece of equipment.  As I learned previously  - having the right piece of equipment can make all the difference in the world in accomplishing one's goals and efforts.  It can be done with other options but that can add extra work and in an effort like this who needs that?  Well, I don't.  Maybe others do but I know my possibilities and I know my limitations.  I know people don't like to acknowledge that reality but it's best if I do...otherwise life becomes an effort in futility.  We CANNOT all do everything...or even lots of things.  For some, it's just better to concentrate on a limited number of possibilities so that what we do attempt we can do well...or complete...or just even attempt.  This does not mean failure.  It means being real....it means knowing oneself well and accepting that one is who one is.  And it is in fact ok.