109 mile ride

The Final Entry

 

When I started, back in May, I had no idea the lessons that I would learn through this experience, lessons in: patience, endurance, the power of faith, strength, healing. There were many cycling lessons too: riding on a properly fitted bike, eating to ride, never having to learn to change a tire (I love my tires!), the expense involved in cycling (!), dressing for cold weather riding (!).

In the end, though, my biggest lesson was learning to feel proud of myself. Knowing that I set out to do something BIG and finding that I could stick to it, despite injury and frustration. I ended up riding 105.33 miles (sagging up two big hills to prevent injury) and the last 30 miles were my strongest. I felt exhilirated, strong, at one with my bike. My mind wasn't bored thinking about the pedal strokes, I didn't need to distract myself, I was just there...in the moment...loving it and knowing that I would finish.

Two moments of the ride that were the highlights:

1. At mile 65ish: hearing, feeling Ryan's granddad, Dean, telling me that I could do this, feeling him giving me a push that kept me going to the end. An amazing experience, too unbelievable to put eloquently into words.

2. Getting off my bike at the finish line and having Ryan walk up to me and embrace me with the words, "I'm so proud of you, Mom." Priceless.

Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement, your financial support and your faith (and amazement) in my ability to do this!

The End.

 

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

 

I'm a girl who likes to go round and round: politics, religion, educational philosophy...even bike rides. There's something comforting for me about traveling the same road, seeing the same sights, knowing where I'm going, knowing where I've been.

This week was all about going right round, baby, right round. We traveled a repetitive route to get the miles in, but I loved that. I knew what I was in for and that was all right by me! 

There were points in the 70 mile ride, however, when we were truly on the road to nowhere.

 But the view was just like heaven .

 

{Don't forget to click the links to get a musical tour of my thoughts!...Wait for the David Cook video (he talks about crossword puzzles for a bit); his singing is worth it!}

Dawn Patrol

 

When you're snuggled up, under the warm covers, this is what you miss.

Sometimes its worth it to get up and out and greet the dawn .

We saw the sunrise , felt the cool crispness of fall, cycled into a valley of rising balloons .

It almost made me forget about the speed at which I was descending from the top of the city into the valley...almost.

It almost was enough to hang onto on the climb to the end of Highway 165 through Plactias...almost.

It almost was enough to dream about in the SAG vehicle (after deciding that my back, hip, neck and shoulders had had enough for the day)...no wait, it WAS enough to dream about.

(click on any of the links to listen to some groovy tunes) xo

From the Mouths of Teens

 

Kevin (our 15 year old neighbor): "How was your ride today?"

Me: "Good! It was an easy ride."

Kevin: "Where'd you go?"

Me: "Los Lunas."

Kevin: "Los Lunas? That's an easy ride?"

Me: "Yeah, it was only 45 miles."

Kevin: "45 miles is easy?!"

 

Gosh, do I feel proud of myself!

Not only can I see 45 miles as easy, BUT I impressed a 15 year old.

That's not just a good day, THAT'S a KICK-A** DAY!

(Week 18)

Where's Stanley?

"Are you Stanley?"

"Uh, who me? Uh, gosh, well, uh, no."

"Are you Stanley?"

"Ah, sugah, do I look like a Stanley to you?"

"Silly, THIS is Stanley. Stanley, NM."

The ride: 64.3 miles...Cedar Crest to Stanley to Moriarty and back.

Downhill going...UPhill coming back.

But beautiful vistas the whole way...makes me want to buy a farm, raise chickens and alpacas, and live the life of WiDe oPeN sPacEs.