The temperature started off at 27 but was supposed to slowly warm to about 50. The sky was clear and the winds very calm. I was eager to get on the road.
Speaking of sleep, that was the destination today; not sleep but a mattress store up in Bentonville, Cloud 9. This is the kind of ride I like, one with a destination and an errand. Possibly a 70 mile ride?
I got out by 9:45 when the temperature was about 38. I left straight form home which has been a rare occurrence these past few weeks.
Not too far down on Habberton, I came across the shed below with this haunting figure on the door. I couldn't decide which image I liked best, the B&W or the color one, so I included both.
The fur on this calf seemed especially downy.
The ride was going very well; what was there to complain about being warmly dressed under a blue sky and just a touch of a wind. Riding to an errand destination it is easy to ignore the odometer and just enjoy the ride.
It is amazing the items that break down on a bicycle during a 10,000 mile ride. I stopped to take a picture of the sumac plants and when I put my kickstand down, it suffered from metal fatigue and snapped. Who would have thought?
Into Bentonville, a stop to grab a BBQ sandwich and then over to Cloud 9 for a mattress set. I had a good chat with JT as I tried out a couple of mattresses and finally settling on one. And, then, of course, I had to get a picture of the crew.
Travis, Nick and JT
Cloud 9 is an outlet store so, if you are in the market for a mattress, there's a chance you can find a very good deal (unpaid endorsement).
I headed north for Bentonville town square to get in a few more miles before heading back south to Fayetteville and home. I was still hoping to get in 70 miles but I had used up quite a bit of daylight and I wasn't sure if I could get it in.
If I didn't stop to take too many pictures, I had a decent chance of hitting 70.
I had to stop very quickly to snap a picture of this building on Goad Springs Road, just off the airport road by I-540. It has always grabbed my curiosity because it is completely unmarked with only a sign that says Private Property, No Trespassing. I waited to be descended upon by five black LTDs after I took this picture but I made it down the road free and clear.
And, then there were the traffic lights as I tried to make my way through Springdale. I think as a rule, bicyclists are fated to hit red lights but some of the lights in Springdale seemed inordinately long; I timed one at two minutes. I must have lost 10 minutes waiting on lights. But, in the end, all was well as I made it home just at sunset and with 70 miles under the belt. A very excellent ride and day.
Today's Ride: 6hrs 2mins. 70.26miles 37°-51°-45°(Start-high-Finish). Miles YTD: 9,051.94
Number of miles per day needed to reach 10,000 miles by the end of the year: 21.55
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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