The plans were for a long ride today. I didn't feel as tired as yesterday morning, but still getting myself together and out the door seemed to take some doing. I drove down to the bottom of the hill on Hwy 45 and parked on 45 as I didn't feel very inclined to take on the traffic leaving or coming back later in the day.
A beautiful fall day with a completely blue sky and crisp air; this felt as if it was the first official day of autumn. I set my sights on a 75 - 80 mile ride and planned to make my way over to Springdale, Elm Springs and follow Old Hwy 68 till it hit 412 near Siloam Springs. The route was chosen as much for its distance as it was to ride so that I wouldn't have to battle the expected winds too much. Having the distant destination created a good mind set as I felt I was on a bike trip and, thus, my pace was relaxed and unrushed.
At one point, I was looking up at the blue sky trying to see if there was something to take a picture of that would highlight the sky. A moment later, a pair of geese flew over me and their bodies were a wonderful contrast to the blue. I watched, enjoying the sight, forgetting to pull out the camera until it was too late to snap a picture. On the edge of Springdale, the above sci-fi creature grabbed my attention against the blue.
In Elm Springs, I pulled over to the curb of the very small row of storefronts. To my right, I noticed Ted's Barbershop. It was closed and through the glare of the window I could just make out one of the barber chairs. I walked up and held the camera flush against the window and was pleasantly surprised with the result. Note the torn chair covering.
Plenty of time to think while riding. Sometimes I think about this new play I've been working on. I thought about Einstein today and the theory of relativity that all are in a tither about. Scientists have managed, by accident, to accelerate a certain particle faster than the speed of light. They assumed that that just couldn't be right, but after pouring over their results they felt it was correct. This went against what has been held to be a truth for over a 100 years. I love Einstein and he is my hero. But, I've always thought it was misguided for him to insist that speed of light is the ultimate velocity.
All of that thinking somehow led to our place in the world and universe and how we really can't have any idea why we choose the paths we do. Do I bike so much to ultimately change something I have no idea about? Like during my ride in Georgia when I stopped to move a very large rock in the road that must have fallen off of a truck; has all the riding I've done lead me to that moment in time to move that rock from the road and thus prevent a bad accident? Probably not.
And, then I thought that it is interesting that we think we are led on certain paths to do good. Perhaps my purpose for riding is to create a negative change. As humans, we don't like to think that such would be our goals.
I'm not sure it really matters what are ultimate purpose here is; I don't think we will ever know one way or another. But in the meantime, life sure is nicer reaching out to others, helping. And, I really do find such beauty when I ride, experiencing that sense of here and now and oneness with my environs over and over.
I arrived back at my truck in great spirits and not feeling all that tired. I contemplated making it a century ride but that would have gotten me home after 6:00 and made for a short evening in which to wind down. After all, pacing is important. And, as it turned out, just as I was finishing my last mile, Carol called to see when I would be home as Rachel was sick, (throwing up) and Carol was about to head out to teach an evening class.
Today's Ride: 7hrs 18mins. (Actual time: 7hrs 48mins) 87.02 miles. 57°-70° Miles YTD: 7,254.00
Number of miles per day needed to reach 9,000 miles by the end of the year: 22.10
...to reach 10,000 miles by the end of the year: 34.76
To see older postings, search the Archives listed on the right had panel.
To see postings before 15 August 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike2.blogspot.com
To see postings before 11 June 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment