I'm always amazed at the things I see when I'm on a ride. Some people wouldn't care, or notice, but when you're on a bike and there's nothing distracting you, you really have time to take it all in!
On Feb. 13, I took a 21 mile ride which covered Hwys 79, 49, 366, 86 and 17. There were still a lot of geese around, some ducks, sometimes I spot an occasional deer but on this day there was some kind of little critter on one of the bridges. I was able to get pretty close because of the direction the wind was blowing. I'm still not sure if it was a nutria rat or something else. He was pretty surprised to see me though and took off from me back into the water!
I also saw three eagles but I never could catch them with the camera. What a magnificent sight!!! Two were flying over the trees and I spotted one in the woods on an old dead tree - it was just sitting there watching me. Too bad it was out of camera range, that would have been a great shot!
I feel very fortunate to be able to experience these things. I sometimes forget in my daily life to "stop and smell the roses". When I do take the time, I feel so blessed! It's good for my soul and my mental health...My wish is that everyone could have that same feeling! So today....take the time...."stop and smell the roses" of life :)
My first attempt at a blog! I ask myself why do I need one? I want to use this as a way to talk about something that really excites me....Cycling! In June of 2010 I did something I had never done before. I entered a "fun ride" - Tour de Rock! It was at Burns Park in Little Rock and was sponsored by Carti. This was only 14 miles and when I was done....I knew I could ride longer and wished I had signed up for a greater distance.
That's what set the stage! I wanted to ride longer, I wanted to go greater distances...and I knew I could do it! I kept riding; dirt roads, highways around my house, different bike trails, parks....it didn't matter if it was 100 degrees out! I had a passion for something that I couldn't get enough of!
Later that year, I got a new bike....a Specialized Dolce and what a difference it made in my speed and how long I rode. This is my baby and I take great pride in it! Since this was a "road bike", I kept it on bike paths and highways, but I still felt the need for those rides down rock/gravel roads where you see all the growing fields, wildlife and very few people. That kind of riding calls for a different kind of bike so I upgraded my Mongoose from Wal-Mart (that I had ridden for years) to a men's Specialized Hardrock MTB. Now I can have the best of both worlds!
I went on to enter two more bike tours. The Big Dam Bridge 100 and the Tour da Delta. I rode 30 miles in each of these, and yes they were both kind of tough especially since I was "new" to this tour thing. What a sense of accomplishment to finish! My goal for 2011 is to do a bike tour in almost every month, starting in March.
I'll tell you this- I'm not real fast on my bike, but I have stamina....I know in time I will reach my goal of riding 100 miles!!! So follow me; watch me; do it with me....It's my journey....
"Keep the wind at your back"! ~
Here's my Dolce
and here's my Hardrock
