The windows faced southeast, allowing an easy view of a colorful sunrise.
It seems as if the skies have been rather clearly lately so I wondered if the red sky at morning really meant, sailor take warning.
Carol and Rachel headed up for Rachel's 10:30 soccer game. The plan was for me to ride up to catch the 2:30 game, which was the Finals of the weekend tournament. So, there was the chance, a 50-50 chance, that Rachel's team wouldn't advance and I would get part way there and have to turn around and ride back.
But in the morning when I took off, everything was clicking. Energy level was good, temperature was good, spirits were good and, for some reason, I kept singing Mack the Knife in my head. I know the song originally from when Bobby Darin sang it back in 1959. I was old enough to catch the words but too young to make any real sense out of them. I seem to hum the song when I'm in a good mood; perhaps the song is associated with some good memories from when I was 6.
The song had newer and deeper significance after I worked on a Kurt Weill cabaret production where the song was performed. Having studied Bertolt Brecht, who co-wrote the song, the lyrics came across much differently knowing that time period than when Bobby Darin sang it. I still enjoy both versions.
This was going to be a very pleasant ride indeed as I was heading mostly north and the wind was coming from the west and south. In the morning, it was still relatively moderate.
I passed this gentleman on a sidewalk in Springdale at 11:30. I stopped and asked if I could take his picture. While getting out the camera I asked if he had been to a Halloween party. "Yes. Last night on Dickson St. (which is in Fayetteville)." "And, you are still wearing the mask?" I asked. "Yes. Ain't Halloween tomorrow?" he answered, implying, it seemed, that the ritual of wearing a mask and a costume lasted for an entire weekend.
I turned onto 13th Street in Rogers and smiled at the two sights in front of me. On one side was a teenage boy walking, playing a guitar and singing and, on the other side of the road, was an elderly woman very slowly walking in the road. I tried taking a picture with them apart but the angle was too wide with the subjects totally lost in the background. The woman, slowly making her way in the road as opposed to on the sidewalk, fascinated me. The boy crossed, walking at a much faster clip and I pulled up about 20-30 feet behind the woman and snapped several shots. I think this may end up being one of my favorite pictures.
A few minutes after the picture was taken, I received word that Rachel's team would NOT advance. Bad news for her team. Good news in that I would be able to have a much longer ride; bad news in that it meant turning around and riding into the wind. Good news, in that the wind was coming much more strongly from the west than the south. And, fortunately, except for a few miles in the Rogers area, the route south had buffers along the west side of the road making the trek back very bearable.
A bit weary by the end of the ride but a very excellent and enjoyable outing.
Today's Ride: 6hrs 4mins. 71.08 miles. 53°-67° 15-25mph Miles YTD: 8,200.36
Number of miles per day needed to reach 10,000 miles by the end of the year: 29.03
Donations for Biking for Food, which support the Community Meals at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, AR, can be sent to: Biking for Food, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 224 N. East Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701
Or, make a pledge per bike miles ridden at www.stpaulsfay.org/bikingforfood.html.
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
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