Ya just never know what lies ahead on a ride.
Today I decided to do a few laps at Whitnall Park.
I completed five solid laps, climbing up those two hills each lap in what was a more-humid and warm day than yesterday.
Sunny
85 degrees and humid
Wind, 10-12
Whitnall Crit, 11 laps, 40 miles
At the end of the planned five laps I pulled off at the pavilion where there is a working bubbler to get a drink, fill my bottles and down a granola bar before taking the 12-mile ride back home.
So what happened?
Why the six more laps instead of just going home.
I credit what I'll call the hot babysitter. There she was with two little girls and a dog. As they walked on the route in the opposite direction of me I kept saying to myself, "I'll go one more lap to see them again." The kids waved to me and what I can only assume was the hot babysitter said hi, and after a few times passing them it became a game with her and the kids. They were laughing and waiting for me to come around in the later laps.
On lap #11 I waved a final goodbye as they headed off the route onto another street. No need for lap 12. I rode home, legs dead tired by the end of this 40 miles today.
I hadn't eaten properly and it showed. There was nothing in the tank for the final 4-5 miles.
Lesson: eat before you ride.
No riding for the holiday weekend now.
HAPPY 4th OF JULY...the heat and humidity feel good to me.
Season Miles: 1,122
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The watch
I got a later start today because I grabbed some lunch and drove to my wife's place of employment to surprise her with a little picnic for lunch break. It was way too nice outside for her to be trapped in a cubicle all day long.
So after the little lunch I grabbed my all-white team FDJ kit to go on a maiden voyage with my new riding watch. You see, my lunch idea was just a payback nice thing to do for her after what she did for me.
Last week I stopped into a sporting goods store to kill some time on the way to a meeting. I mentioned to her that night that I had seen a summer riding watch that I really like, which has been no easy task.
At the time I told myself not to spend money I don't have, so I walked away from it even though I did need a new riding watch.
Last weekend she came home from grocery shopping and handed me a bag. Inside she said was my early birthday present. My birthday isn't until the end of August, but as Sandy said, "What good would it do you then? I wanted you to have it to wear while you are riding all summer."
Smooth.
Today I have a story from both on the way out and on the way back in.
Sunny
77
Wind 12-15
Three Bridges, 35 miles
Very early in the ride on the first section of path I passed a blond lady roadie wearing a pink jersey. She was stopped at the side of the path talking on her cell phone.
Blocks later I realized that she had picked up the ride and was on my wheel. After a stop sign she took the lead and three times she made a light and I did not. So three times I used her as a carrot to catch up to her, only to wait again at a light. Finally at Highway 100 we were both stopped for the light and we chatted a bit about how the wind had come up, but how nice a day it was for a ride.
Then for a pretty long time in the parkway I think I was pulling for her. She would fall slightly back, but was always there riding her dark blue Waterford. But as I approached Franklin and the bridges, she was gone. It was nice to have someone around today because it forced me to go into the wind at 16-17 instead of 13-14 on my own.
On the way back the wind was not a whole lot better. I grabbed a banana and turned around at the sports complex. I did a couple of sections at hard tempo, and that tired me out.
Back in the parkway I came up behind a guy that was riding what turned out to be a noisy Trek just squeaking away. But he had some kind of fancy deep-rimmed wheels on his machine. He was going slowly and I drifted past him without saying a word, going about 16 mph.
Suddenly down the road I hear that squeaking noise, which tells me that once I went past he decided to go faster and grab my wheel.
LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: I don't mind that at all, but if you do that out there on the road, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING. It's impolite and flat-out dangerous to suck a wheel unannounced back there like that.
I got mad. Then I got busy. I told myself that no matter how tired I was...no matter how much wind was in my face...I was NOT going to let this squeak-bag pass me if I could help it.
As fast as the squeaker was there the squeaker was gone. I don't know if he turned off or just gave up. Don't care either. Point was he was gone.
A good first-ever ride for my cool new summer riding watch! It looks good with my black and white bike and my white helmet. Like I always say, if you can't BE good, at least LOOK good.
Season Miles: 1,082
So after the little lunch I grabbed my all-white team FDJ kit to go on a maiden voyage with my new riding watch. You see, my lunch idea was just a payback nice thing to do for her after what she did for me.
Last week I stopped into a sporting goods store to kill some time on the way to a meeting. I mentioned to her that night that I had seen a summer riding watch that I really like, which has been no easy task.
At the time I told myself not to spend money I don't have, so I walked away from it even though I did need a new riding watch.
Last weekend she came home from grocery shopping and handed me a bag. Inside she said was my early birthday present. My birthday isn't until the end of August, but as Sandy said, "What good would it do you then? I wanted you to have it to wear while you are riding all summer."
Smooth.
Today I have a story from both on the way out and on the way back in.
Sunny
77
Wind 12-15
Three Bridges, 35 miles
Very early in the ride on the first section of path I passed a blond lady roadie wearing a pink jersey. She was stopped at the side of the path talking on her cell phone.
Blocks later I realized that she had picked up the ride and was on my wheel. After a stop sign she took the lead and three times she made a light and I did not. So three times I used her as a carrot to catch up to her, only to wait again at a light. Finally at Highway 100 we were both stopped for the light and we chatted a bit about how the wind had come up, but how nice a day it was for a ride.
Then for a pretty long time in the parkway I think I was pulling for her. She would fall slightly back, but was always there riding her dark blue Waterford. But as I approached Franklin and the bridges, she was gone. It was nice to have someone around today because it forced me to go into the wind at 16-17 instead of 13-14 on my own.
On the way back the wind was not a whole lot better. I grabbed a banana and turned around at the sports complex. I did a couple of sections at hard tempo, and that tired me out.
Back in the parkway I came up behind a guy that was riding what turned out to be a noisy Trek just squeaking away. But he had some kind of fancy deep-rimmed wheels on his machine. He was going slowly and I drifted past him without saying a word, going about 16 mph.
Suddenly down the road I hear that squeaking noise, which tells me that once I went past he decided to go faster and grab my wheel.
LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: I don't mind that at all, but if you do that out there on the road, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING. It's impolite and flat-out dangerous to suck a wheel unannounced back there like that.
I got mad. Then I got busy. I told myself that no matter how tired I was...no matter how much wind was in my face...I was NOT going to let this squeak-bag pass me if I could help it.
As fast as the squeaker was there the squeaker was gone. I don't know if he turned off or just gave up. Don't care either. Point was he was gone.
A good first-ever ride for my cool new summer riding watch! It looks good with my black and white bike and my white helmet. Like I always say, if you can't BE good, at least LOOK good.
Season Miles: 1,082
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Pulled over by the law
Well it finally happened.
A) I finally got back on my bike and got some solid road work in today
B) The sun finally returned
C) The rain finally stopped
D) I got pulled over by the law!
Finally.
The stars aligned. I had an open Saturday morning and the weather was near-perfect. So as my poor wife headed into work on a Saturday, I headed for the Madone. I was on the road heading west by 9:15 in the morning, the earliest start to a ride for me this season.
It was effortless.
Both mind and body were fully-charged and things were coming easy riding out to Wales. I would find out later that one reason I felt so good was that what I THOUGHT was a cross wind going out was actually more like a tail wind because I had it in the face coming home. But it wasn't bad at all.
Sunny
75-ish
Light wind, 5-10
54 miles, past Dousman to the end of the paved trail and back
I got to Wales just taking it easy, spinning up the false flat to the rest stop at a steady low-90's rpm. There I ate a granola bar and quickly decided to keep going to Dousman today. The trail was busy with people, mostly bike riders enjoying the day. Then it finally happened...
Between Wales and Dousman heading west the rangers had the path blocked with a large ATV vehicle. One ranger in full ranger uniform was on the side of the path writing a ticket to a bike rider while another woman working with the ranger was waving me down to stop. They were checking for the needed trail pass.
I made the lady laugh out loud as I unclipped and came to a stop saying, "Finally. I've been waiting two years to get checked in here just so I could whip out the pass I bought!" She replied, "Right, make it worth your while." Exactly. Pretty funny. I figured it would happen sooner or later and I actually wanted to be checked.
The corn you ride right past heading toward Dousman is already knee high. None of this knee high by fourth of July...it's already there or higher.
Once in Dousman I stopped at Bicycle Doctor, my plan being I would raid my emergency $$ in my saddle bag and buy a Powerbar for the ride home. Huh. Turns out I must have used that emergency money earlier and forgot to replace it because there was no cash to be found. So I took the path west up to the point where it turns into gravel, then turned around and headed back.
A quick stop at Wales again for the second granola bar I had brought along. My wife picked up something new...nice thought but bad result. While they tasted great, they had a layer of something sweet on the bottom, something that had turned to a mushy goo while heating up in my jersey pocket.
I did a little hard tempo between Wales and Waukesha, where the downhill false flat invites you to pick up the pace to the low 20's. After that it was mostly just sight-seeing along the busy path, and by sight-seeing I mean girl watching of course.
All was well until only a few blocks from home. My left quad suddenly had a massive failure after starting from a stop light. The thing wanted to knot up so bad that I thought I would have to walk the final two blocks! I guess that's from doing 54 miles with no training in your legs to build up to that.
Pleased today to be back.
Tour de France starts one week from today.
Don't forget to enter the PhilCast Pick the Podium contest. Go to the contest page at thephilcast.com for details.
Season Miles: 1.046
A) I finally got back on my bike and got some solid road work in today
B) The sun finally returned
C) The rain finally stopped
D) I got pulled over by the law!
Finally.
The stars aligned. I had an open Saturday morning and the weather was near-perfect. So as my poor wife headed into work on a Saturday, I headed for the Madone. I was on the road heading west by 9:15 in the morning, the earliest start to a ride for me this season.
It was effortless.
Both mind and body were fully-charged and things were coming easy riding out to Wales. I would find out later that one reason I felt so good was that what I THOUGHT was a cross wind going out was actually more like a tail wind because I had it in the face coming home. But it wasn't bad at all.
Sunny
75-ish
Light wind, 5-10
54 miles, past Dousman to the end of the paved trail and back
I got to Wales just taking it easy, spinning up the false flat to the rest stop at a steady low-90's rpm. There I ate a granola bar and quickly decided to keep going to Dousman today. The trail was busy with people, mostly bike riders enjoying the day. Then it finally happened...
Between Wales and Dousman heading west the rangers had the path blocked with a large ATV vehicle. One ranger in full ranger uniform was on the side of the path writing a ticket to a bike rider while another woman working with the ranger was waving me down to stop. They were checking for the needed trail pass.
I made the lady laugh out loud as I unclipped and came to a stop saying, "Finally. I've been waiting two years to get checked in here just so I could whip out the pass I bought!" She replied, "Right, make it worth your while." Exactly. Pretty funny. I figured it would happen sooner or later and I actually wanted to be checked.
The corn you ride right past heading toward Dousman is already knee high. None of this knee high by fourth of July...it's already there or higher.
Once in Dousman I stopped at Bicycle Doctor, my plan being I would raid my emergency $$ in my saddle bag and buy a Powerbar for the ride home. Huh. Turns out I must have used that emergency money earlier and forgot to replace it because there was no cash to be found. So I took the path west up to the point where it turns into gravel, then turned around and headed back.
A quick stop at Wales again for the second granola bar I had brought along. My wife picked up something new...nice thought but bad result. While they tasted great, they had a layer of something sweet on the bottom, something that had turned to a mushy goo while heating up in my jersey pocket.
I did a little hard tempo between Wales and Waukesha, where the downhill false flat invites you to pick up the pace to the low 20's. After that it was mostly just sight-seeing along the busy path, and by sight-seeing I mean girl watching of course.
All was well until only a few blocks from home. My left quad suddenly had a massive failure after starting from a stop light. The thing wanted to knot up so bad that I thought I would have to walk the final two blocks! I guess that's from doing 54 miles with no training in your legs to build up to that.
Pleased today to be back.
Tour de France starts one week from today.
Don't forget to enter the PhilCast Pick the Podium contest. Go to the contest page at thephilcast.com for details.
Season Miles: 1.046
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Lightning Crashes
The title to today's ride post is not only appropriate for the day, but it also happens to be the title of a song I really like from the 90's by a band called Live. "Lightning Crashes" is off their Throwing Copper CD if interested.
But today it was actual lightning that ended this ride.
Knowing there is severe weather in the forecast but having some major pent-up yearning to get back on the bike bubbling inside me, I decided to go out but stay close to home. By riding on my Elm Grove crit course I knew if conditions changed quickly I could get back home in about five minutes.
By the end of lap four I had to make a decision because I could see a line of dark nasty clouds coming. Should I pull off now to play it safe? But wait, writing down on my blog that I did FOUR laps seems very lame. For some reason FIVE laps is a nice round number. Go or turn off? Go or turn off? Make a decision Phil because this is the turn....
I went for it.
As it turned out I was able to complete lap five just fine. In fact on the turnaround I told myself that perhaps there was blue sky behind that line...keep going...take a chance.
I got about three blocks into lap number six and saw a bright bolt of lightning, followed by the bang of thunder. That's all it took. No sense being a hero. I turned around and headed for home.
I almost made it dry too. Five blocks from home the sky opened up. The rain actually felt good on me, but it's the slippery road that I worry about. You just see the areas of rainbow colors from the oil coming up on the road surface. That stuff can be like ice on road bike tires and I have no desire to put it down on my hip.
Safe and sound and wet, I parked it.
Clouds/rain
70's, muggy, lt. wind
Elm Grove crit, 5.3 laps! 16 miles
Then there's this note to anyone who ever drove past one of those roadside contraptions the cops put out to tell you YOUR speed...
Well the cops have a working machine set up at one the corners where I hang a right turn, so every time I came out of that turn it flashed my speed at me. (Kinda humbling actually) Anyway, I was doing 16's on the turn except for one lap where it told me I was going 27 MPH! Not. I wish.
So if they ever give you a ticket based on that thing, I'd question how accurate it actually was. There was no way in hell I was going 27 mph through a turn...not even on DRY pavement.
Oh, and as I write this on my porch....the sun is out. Can't win this season.
Season Miles: 992
But today it was actual lightning that ended this ride.
Knowing there is severe weather in the forecast but having some major pent-up yearning to get back on the bike bubbling inside me, I decided to go out but stay close to home. By riding on my Elm Grove crit course I knew if conditions changed quickly I could get back home in about five minutes.
By the end of lap four I had to make a decision because I could see a line of dark nasty clouds coming. Should I pull off now to play it safe? But wait, writing down on my blog that I did FOUR laps seems very lame. For some reason FIVE laps is a nice round number. Go or turn off? Go or turn off? Make a decision Phil because this is the turn....
I went for it.
As it turned out I was able to complete lap five just fine. In fact on the turnaround I told myself that perhaps there was blue sky behind that line...keep going...take a chance.
I got about three blocks into lap number six and saw a bright bolt of lightning, followed by the bang of thunder. That's all it took. No sense being a hero. I turned around and headed for home.
I almost made it dry too. Five blocks from home the sky opened up. The rain actually felt good on me, but it's the slippery road that I worry about. You just see the areas of rainbow colors from the oil coming up on the road surface. That stuff can be like ice on road bike tires and I have no desire to put it down on my hip.
Safe and sound and wet, I parked it.
Clouds/rain
70's, muggy, lt. wind
Elm Grove crit, 5.3 laps! 16 miles
Then there's this note to anyone who ever drove past one of those roadside contraptions the cops put out to tell you YOUR speed...
Well the cops have a working machine set up at one the corners where I hang a right turn, so every time I came out of that turn it flashed my speed at me. (Kinda humbling actually) Anyway, I was doing 16's on the turn except for one lap where it told me I was going 27 MPH! Not. I wish.
So if they ever give you a ticket based on that thing, I'd question how accurate it actually was. There was no way in hell I was going 27 mph through a turn...not even on DRY pavement.
Oh, and as I write this on my porch....the sun is out. Can't win this season.
Season Miles: 992
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Cold shot
While 'cold shot' may very well be a great SRV song, it was no fun on the road today.
I wasn't planning on even riding after a hard 46 miles yesterday and tired legs and a sore back today.
But I finished cutting a bunch of brush in the yard, ate lunch and saw that the sun was still out. So I headed out for some sort of easy recovery ride.
Had I known I probably wouldn't have bothered at all.
Turned out to be only 11 miles!
My legs were like stone. My head wasn't into it. Neither was my heart. My brain told me that I had a massive tailwind heading west on the NB trail and that I would be coming back INTO that wind.
I cut it off and turned around at Mooreland Rd.
I was actually COLD riding back into a 15-20 mph wind off the lake. I certainly could have used a wind vest with the temp only in the 60's and into that wind. Yuk.
Season Miles: 976
I wasn't planning on even riding after a hard 46 miles yesterday and tired legs and a sore back today.
But I finished cutting a bunch of brush in the yard, ate lunch and saw that the sun was still out. So I headed out for some sort of easy recovery ride.
Had I known I probably wouldn't have bothered at all.
Turned out to be only 11 miles!
My legs were like stone. My head wasn't into it. Neither was my heart. My brain told me that I had a massive tailwind heading west on the NB trail and that I would be coming back INTO that wind.
I cut it off and turned around at Mooreland Rd.
I was actually COLD riding back into a 15-20 mph wind off the lake. I certainly could have used a wind vest with the temp only in the 60's and into that wind. Yuk.
Season Miles: 976
Monday, June 13, 2011
New 'old' glasses
It has been a while since I have gotten a ride in. After the nice hot weather it turned cold and wet again, and then over the weekend chores called. But today I got 46 miles in.
Sun
72
Wind 10-12
7-Mile Road, 46 miles
It felt good to be back out there riding and soaking up some sunshine. I had to squeeze it in between some yard work today as well.
Talked to Matthew Busche's dad Craig who stopped by on his way out on a training ride. I was cutting grass so he pulled over and we had a chat. He sure is proud of Matthew's accomplishment in his second year as a pro...as he should be!
We plan to ride together soon, when he needs an easy spin day rather than his usual riding, which is much faster and harder than my pace.
Looks like the Oak Leaf is going to go UNDER Bluemound, where it is all torn up right now. But it sure looks like the path is going to be moved a bit. Fine with me...one less busy intersection to cross in the city.
First ride with my new old riding glasses too. I found a pair of Bolle Vigilante frames with my Rx insert still usable with the frame. Paired the old insert up with the new frame and shaded lens and it's like I have new riding glasses!
Season Miles: 965
Sun
72
Wind 10-12
7-Mile Road, 46 miles
It felt good to be back out there riding and soaking up some sunshine. I had to squeeze it in between some yard work today as well.
Talked to Matthew Busche's dad Craig who stopped by on his way out on a training ride. I was cutting grass so he pulled over and we had a chat. He sure is proud of Matthew's accomplishment in his second year as a pro...as he should be!
We plan to ride together soon, when he needs an easy spin day rather than his usual riding, which is much faster and harder than my pace.
Looks like the Oak Leaf is going to go UNDER Bluemound, where it is all torn up right now. But it sure looks like the path is going to be moved a bit. Fine with me...one less busy intersection to cross in the city.
First ride with my new old riding glasses too. I found a pair of Bolle Vigilante frames with my Rx insert still usable with the frame. Paired the old insert up with the new frame and shaded lens and it's like I have new riding glasses!
Season Miles: 965
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot
These are the days I would like to bottle up and uncork in the dead of winter's freeze around here. Although even I, a lover of sun, heat and humidity, was a bit surprised when I checked my thermometer at the end of my ride today only to see a 98 degrees registered. Wow. No wonder I was feeling a little crisp after three hours in the saddle today.
These days are all about riding. I can't concentrate on anything else in the morning because it is all just a countdown until I can get out and perform in the heat. So today I would be out on the road at 10:30, riding until 1:30.
I headed west to Wales figuring there would be no shortage of people watching there. I was wrong. The NB trail was sparse and the GD trail was a ghost town.
Early in the ride while just starting to climb up the hill at Greenfield Park golf course another roadie coming down the hill said "Phil" to me. Huh. I have no idea who that was, but he looked serious on the bike!
Heading into the west wind and up the slight false flat to Wales I took it easy, turning low 80's rpm at 13's-14 mph. When I arrived to take a short break and eat my granola bar there was no peace and quiet for the stop. A gaggle of about a dozen jr. high-aged girls were all there giggling and screaming at a picnic bench the entire time.
And a wag of the finger and a tip of the hat:
Wag of the finger goes to Wales. You have a nice rest stop located right on a bike path and the water is still capped up there? What? Are you waiting for a 200 degree heat index before turning it on? Shame on you.
The tip of the hat goes to the learning center in Waukesha near the trail head of the GD trail where not only do they have two bubblers working but also a water spout with tons of pressure behind the cold water. I dumped about three bottles over my head, in my face and down my back. Then I dumped one down my pie hole and continued on with the ride.
I grabbed the big ring and now did upper 80's rpm and 17's-18 mph on the way back on the GD trail.
HOT, Humid, 98 degrees!
Wind, 8-12
Wales, 41 miles
I was so glad I cut this ride off and turned around at Wales despite thoughts of going on the Dousman or even farther. I had no idea how hot it had actually gotten, and with the sun beating down on me for three hours even I was indeed feeling a little crisp by the end of 41 miles.
Great ride though. Time to go drink more Gatorade!
Season Miles: 919
These days are all about riding. I can't concentrate on anything else in the morning because it is all just a countdown until I can get out and perform in the heat. So today I would be out on the road at 10:30, riding until 1:30.
I headed west to Wales figuring there would be no shortage of people watching there. I was wrong. The NB trail was sparse and the GD trail was a ghost town.
Early in the ride while just starting to climb up the hill at Greenfield Park golf course another roadie coming down the hill said "Phil" to me. Huh. I have no idea who that was, but he looked serious on the bike!
Heading into the west wind and up the slight false flat to Wales I took it easy, turning low 80's rpm at 13's-14 mph. When I arrived to take a short break and eat my granola bar there was no peace and quiet for the stop. A gaggle of about a dozen jr. high-aged girls were all there giggling and screaming at a picnic bench the entire time.
And a wag of the finger and a tip of the hat:
Wag of the finger goes to Wales. You have a nice rest stop located right on a bike path and the water is still capped up there? What? Are you waiting for a 200 degree heat index before turning it on? Shame on you.
The tip of the hat goes to the learning center in Waukesha near the trail head of the GD trail where not only do they have two bubblers working but also a water spout with tons of pressure behind the cold water. I dumped about three bottles over my head, in my face and down my back. Then I dumped one down my pie hole and continued on with the ride.
I grabbed the big ring and now did upper 80's rpm and 17's-18 mph on the way back on the GD trail.
HOT, Humid, 98 degrees!
Wind, 8-12
Wales, 41 miles
I was so glad I cut this ride off and turned around at Wales despite thoughts of going on the Dousman or even farther. I had no idea how hot it had actually gotten, and with the sun beating down on me for three hours even I was indeed feeling a little crisp by the end of 41 miles.
Great ride though. Time to go drink more Gatorade!
Season Miles: 919
Monday, June 6, 2011
Welcome back my friends heat & huidity
God how I love it hot and humid.
After morning thundershowers the sun broke through for the first of what is predicted to be three hot and humid days in a row.
To take advantage today I started with an easy 30 miles. Man it feels good to feel the heat again. I did five laps hard on the Whitnall Crit course and then stopped at the bubbler to partake in this season's very first cold water dump on the head.
Ah the burning eyes...the tingling skin...sweat pouring out of your body. You can't beat it in my book. And tomorrow is only supposed to be hotter, with the forecast saying all sun, humid and mid-90's. Perfect. Who's in?
Sun/upper 80's
Humid
Wind 10-15
30 miles/5 laps on Whitnall Crit
Tuesday will be all about pushing through the heat to do more miles. I'm already looking forward to the challenge. I'll take mid-90's any day over 40's.
Season Miles: 878
After morning thundershowers the sun broke through for the first of what is predicted to be three hot and humid days in a row.
To take advantage today I started with an easy 30 miles. Man it feels good to feel the heat again. I did five laps hard on the Whitnall Crit course and then stopped at the bubbler to partake in this season's very first cold water dump on the head.
Ah the burning eyes...the tingling skin...sweat pouring out of your body. You can't beat it in my book. And tomorrow is only supposed to be hotter, with the forecast saying all sun, humid and mid-90's. Perfect. Who's in?
Sun/upper 80's
Humid
Wind 10-15
30 miles/5 laps on Whitnall Crit
Tuesday will be all about pushing through the heat to do more miles. I'm already looking forward to the challenge. I'll take mid-90's any day over 40's.
Season Miles: 878
Saturday, June 4, 2011
For the birds
This ride was literally for the birds...the birds of Horicon Marsh, as Sandy and I took part in the first-ever "Tour de Marsh" event in support of our fine feathered friends on Saturday.
The first thing you learn there is that after the long drive on the freeway you discover that the marsh is in some very hilly territory. Now, that's fine with me, but it proved to be a real challenge for my wife.
Some how she managed to ride her bike for the very first time today since last fall for a total of 24 hilly, hot, windy miles. We were able to cross the entire marsh on a gravel road called Marsh Road today, with water just feet from us on both sides. It was a little tricky because I was riding my Klein with road tires, but no problems thank goodness.
Before crossing the marsh we stopped at the federal visitors center, where they offered up cold water, bananas and apples along with a lesson or two about what birds had been hanging around. The big attraction today was a group of white pelicans. I was able to do an interview with a ranger there and then on we went. (The audio can be heard on the Monday PhilCast show, found at thephilcast.com)
While crossing the marsh the sun broke through and it was HOT. I was treated to the sight of a white pelican floating right in front of me at one point.
Just as I got the binoculars up to my eyes and zeroed in on the bird it decided to take off, meaning I got quite a close-up show of it taking flight. Now that's something you don't see every day on a ride.
There is a quiet in the marsh that is calming to the soul. The chirping of birds seems to be the only thing you hear. No cars. No buses. No horns. No people. You get a sense that this is nature's house and you are but a temporary invader of the space the birds call home.
Here is a picture of me with some of the great guys who helped organize and run the Tour de Marsh. Turns out I have some fans up in the little town of Kekoskee. Thanks guys!
I hope this will be an annual event, because if it is I would like to get a big group together and combo this event with a Tour de PhilCast ride perhaps.
So at the end of the ride Sandy had pushed herself to her limit. We made it back across the marsh on the gravel and then took a hilly country road or two back to the visitors center where Sandy waited for me as I cranked it up a couple of big hills back to the park where we had started off from so that I could get the truck and drive back to pick her up. In the end it all worked out.
Sunny and Hot!
80's
Breezy
30 miles/Tour de Marsh
I was so proud of the effort Sandy made today. She really gave it her all and enjoyed herself in the marsh portion of the ride especially. It was a rare chance to get up close and personal with another beautiful portion of our state.
Season Miles: 848
The first thing you learn there is that after the long drive on the freeway you discover that the marsh is in some very hilly territory. Now, that's fine with me, but it proved to be a real challenge for my wife.
Some how she managed to ride her bike for the very first time today since last fall for a total of 24 hilly, hot, windy miles. We were able to cross the entire marsh on a gravel road called Marsh Road today, with water just feet from us on both sides. It was a little tricky because I was riding my Klein with road tires, but no problems thank goodness.
Before crossing the marsh we stopped at the federal visitors center, where they offered up cold water, bananas and apples along with a lesson or two about what birds had been hanging around. The big attraction today was a group of white pelicans. I was able to do an interview with a ranger there and then on we went. (The audio can be heard on the Monday PhilCast show, found at thephilcast.com)
Just as I got the binoculars up to my eyes and zeroed in on the bird it decided to take off, meaning I got quite a close-up show of it taking flight. Now that's something you don't see every day on a ride.
There is a quiet in the marsh that is calming to the soul. The chirping of birds seems to be the only thing you hear. No cars. No buses. No horns. No people. You get a sense that this is nature's house and you are but a temporary invader of the space the birds call home.
Here is a picture of me with some of the great guys who helped organize and run the Tour de Marsh. Turns out I have some fans up in the little town of Kekoskee. Thanks guys!
I hope this will be an annual event, because if it is I would like to get a big group together and combo this event with a Tour de PhilCast ride perhaps.
So at the end of the ride Sandy had pushed herself to her limit. We made it back across the marsh on the gravel and then took a hilly country road or two back to the visitors center where Sandy waited for me as I cranked it up a couple of big hills back to the park where we had started off from so that I could get the truck and drive back to pick her up. In the end it all worked out.
Sunny and Hot!
80's
Breezy
30 miles/Tour de Marsh
I was so proud of the effort Sandy made today. She really gave it her all and enjoyed herself in the marsh portion of the ride especially. It was a rare chance to get up close and personal with another beautiful portion of our state.
Season Miles: 848
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