Not So Many Toads Today

The alarm went off at 5:45 am and my husband rolled over and asked if I was riding my bike to work today. I quickly determined that my legs were feeling the effects of riding a pretty good clip with the LaneHogs the night before and replied, "No, I'm too tired." Then I got out of bed and saw what a beautiful morning it was, the weather man was saying the winds were calm at 5 mph out of the south. Oh, what the heck, it was too nice NOT to ride to work. And what is better for stiff legs than to get back on the bike and spin it out! Surprisingly I managed to average 16.2 mph from my door to the door of work. Which is a pretty good solo average for me (with no wind pushing me).

I'm getting into this bike commute, I love that I'm saving gas, and that I get in some training miles while getting to spend the evenings with my husband.

Luckily with my job I don't see many people in the summer until the students come back the end of July. So basically it doesn't matter if I'm a little smelly with helmet head hair! No, really, I think the "baby wipes" I use to clean up with takes care of most of the B.O. Sounds like the showers and locker rooms in the new building might be available starting July 15th.

This morning there were only a few places on the road with baby toads - they missed the big party yesterday.

Commuted to Work by Bike

It was a beautiful day to commute to work by bike! My goal each year is to commute by bike a total of 5 days. With a 50 mile round trip daily commute that saves me almost a tank of gas.

Also, I've seen some interesting wild life that I would have otherwise missed. For example, this morning the roads were covered with baby toads hopping about! I've never seen so many in my life. I think I managed to somehow not run over any as I kept a watch out and didn't see any toad slime on my front tire.

Total number of miles in for the year (since April 1st): ~1230. Commuting miles: ~200.

Long Weekend Coming to a Close

It was a great weekend, that again went by all too quickly. Here is a quick recap.

The long weekend started on Thursday evening with the annual July 3rd party some of our friends have. Lots of yummy food (ribs from Famous Dave's and chicken from Uncle Ed's), some yard games, and sitting by a bonfire. And the evening was so cool that the fire felt good!

Friday (July 4th) I rode bike while my husband polished his model A. In the afternoon, our youngest daughter was home to chat awhile and to take advantage of washing her car in her Dad's shop.

Friday evening we headed to Centerville. Lots going on there this weekend with their 125th celebration. We went for the Poker Alice Concert and tribute to Gary Knutson, a former member of the band who died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Gary and my husband were cousins, here is an article that was in the Argus Leader. It was really cool to see Gary's son playing his Dad's guitar with his Dad's band.

Saturday morning we were back in Centerville for the parade. My husband drove his model A pickup. Nice parade and it looked like it was very well attended. I must confess, I went back to the bakery since we were in town. There was a long line out into the street and they looked like they were going to sell every single pastry they had on hand. They were out of apple fritters, so we had donuts - but it's all good!

In the afternoon my husband and I worked on our perennial flower bed behind the house, did some tilling and then headed on a hunt for some nice rocks to add to the flower bed perimeter. We raided the rock piles of several relatives and friends. Several people have since offered us to come out to their fields this fall and pick as much rock as we would like! Been there, done that, that's why I'm NOT married to a farmer!

After cleaning up, we set up our lawn chairs, listened to some ABBA music, and had a glass of wine in our back yard, enjoying the view of our weed free flower patch. A very relaxing evening.

This morning we woke up early as we tend to always do. I went for a quick bike ride to Irene and back (16 miles). We were both tempted to skip church knowing our minister was on vacation and we had a fill-in lay minister. But decided we should go and we were really glad we did, it was a great service and the minister had a very meaningful message. We went out for lunch and are back home contemplating going out to dig up some wild roses to plant in our flower bed but it looks like it is going to rain any moment, a good excuse to take a nap!

My Independence Day Ride

A beautiful day for a ride! As I recall, the temps are much cooler today than they were a year ago on July 4th. Last year some of us Lane Hogs did a loop from Vermillion to the Spink/Nora area and Elk Point. Then we regrouped after some lunch back in Vermillion and some of us rode the Vermillion-Meckling-Bluff Road loop. It was very hot when we finished. I got in my airconditioned car and drove home which helped to revive me a bit and then went and found the 12 easiest miles I could to total 100 miles for the day.

Today I was riding solo and came no where close to a century ride, but got in 65 very enjoyable miles.

I left Wakonda around 7:30am and rode the Centerville-Viborg-Irene-Wakonda loop (42 miles). I've been riding this route a lot this year and one of the reasons I like it so well is that you have the option to stop every 10-14 miles! And I took advantage of each stop this morning. On my way to Centerville I started thinking about those yummy apple fritters a group of us had at the Bakery last time we did this ride. I had to stop for one of those. I planned to skip the stop in Viborg but I think the sugary pastry had me craving some protein and they have the best cashews at the convnience store in Viborg - the kind in a little paper sack kept all nice and warm. So I had to make a stop for the cashews. On to Irene and I thought I better stop and have a Coke to help me climb the hills south of Irene. I was taking no chances on bonking!

I stopped at home and my hubby was in, we chatted while I had a sandwhich, and then I was off to complete my ride with a 23 mile loop along the Bluff Road. I managed to ride the last 23 miles without stopping and eating along the way! It's not surprising that I gain weight ding biking season!

Commuting by Bike

The last two days I've commuted to work by bike. Monday was just too nice of a day to pass up riding to work and today was a bit breezy but the south wind was a great benefit for the ride home. Mileage one way is 24.45 miles from my door to the bike rack at work.

When the final phase of construction is finished on our buidling, we will have locker rooms with showers, which will be really nice for commuting. Right now, I make due with cleaning up at the sink in restroom. I'm sure those who work with me, will appreciate it when I can actually take a shower after rding my bike in to work!

I have 140 miles in so far for this week and hope to get some more riding in but first I need to get some things checked out on the bike. Hopefully it won't have to stay in the shop long!