Todays ride

   

   

           It was so hot.  We are always so slow to get started in the morning.  Which means we ride during the hottest part of the day.   I have the burn to prove it.  I burn, then it goes away, burn etc....  It never turns into a tan.  I really need to get some sun screen.

     Today we went 12.9 miles.  I am getting discouraged at how slow our progress is.  Yes I am riding in 3rd gear most of the time.  Yes I am going further but I had to use my inhaler again and it is slow going getting my body in shape.  I truly wish I had never ever smoked.  30+ years of being a heavy smoker have come to haunt  me.  I think with my leg muscles I could ride forever but my lungs give out after about 11 miles and it is a struggle.  I hate using my inhaler because it gives me mouth sores.  So seriously, if you smoke quit.  You will so regret it when your my age.

      The positive part of the ride today.   Our average speed is better.  Over 12 mph which isn't bad considering we were 8.7 last week.  If it hadn't been so hot today I could have easily rode another 10 to 15 miles.  Unfortunately my head is so burnt I feel terrible with a hangover type headache.  My legs feel strong and ready to go the distance.  My toe is throbbing and I have been having charlie horses in my broke toe which has been a small not so silent hell for me.  Have you ever felt the ends of bone rubbing together.  I need to tape them better so the bone doesn't move.  It will never heal at this rate.

    Of course we ended with a very cold wheat beer.  Yes I know.  I was giving them up.  But it did make the toe feel better and wheat beer goes great with my sunburnt face.

    I am thinking of starting a bike riding club for plus size people.  Children, men, women, you name it.  Loose and without weight loss being the main objective.  Just riding and getting healthy.  I know lots of people who would ride more if they had someone to ride with.  I probably wouldn't ride as much without Rick to go with me.  It would motivate me.  Plus the more I rode the more calories I would burn.  So I am giving that some serious thought.  We can get tee-shirts and the whole thing if it goes over well.  If I had to lead a group I couldn't come up with any excuses not to ride, right!

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Broken Toe Ride

   I decided to see how riding would go with my broken toe and was pleased to see that riding is much easier then walking at this point.  Since I wasn't sure how it would go we planned a short ride today.  We rode 9.5 miles.  Today I want to go much further.  We started in South Dakota at the park.



  The weather was perfect for a ride...well it could have been slightly less windy but otherwise just great.  It was wonderful to be moving without pain from my toe.  You start out in a neighborhood but after a mile your in cool tree lined trails.









     The path is crushed gravel which is OK to ride on but my tires were a little overfilled and the front tire wanted to slide out on me around curves.  So I had to watch my poor little toe.  There are a couple of places by the river to rest and adjust your bike.





        And you can see Chief War Eagles Grave on the bluff.



      The next stop has a small building that I think is for taking pictures or just watching wildlife.  I don't think it is for hunting as there is a campground right across the river.  Anyway it is pretty cool.







   All the windows had spider webs.



  There are all kind of plants and flowers by the river including our local marijuana plants.  They don't bother to cut it down as it is known as ditch weed and isn't the kind anyone would want to smoke.  Neat leaves though and some pretty flowers on the other plants.







     Since the weather was so nice people and cattle were enjoying the river





     On the way back we saw a path down to the river so did some off trail riding.  Bumpy and since I went first I had the unpleasant task of breaking down the spider webs.  Going down wasn't bad but it was steep going up.  At the bottom was just a couple of shots that looked pretty but would be great for fishing.







      We then drove to town and went to an antique car show.  Ricks relative was showing his old car that Rick laid carpet in.  I had left my camera in the car and didn't want to hobble back and get it so no pictures but there were some great cars and live music.  After that we went home and Rick grilled me some chicken and we sat outside and had dinner and wine.  A good day.  Zoey of course was begging the entire time.

another ride

  I didn't take pictures today.  I am just training now and trying to ride as hard and fast as possible and get my legs muscles built up.  But we did good.  Twice as far and in the hardest speed as that builds up the muscles.

    I was just bragging about how I thought my asthma was cured.  I think my lungs are as good as they used to be.  Wham, wheezing and gasping for breath.  Of course as soon as I rounded a hill  there were people at the top.  When your heavy you do think about the impression you make, and you don't mean a good impression.  So I rode on puffing on my inhaler and soon was able to breath again.  Good clean air, deep grateful breaths.

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A better ride

  I must admit it has been slow getting started on our riding.  But I think we are getting there.  Today's ride went better.  I didn't get rubber legs this time and we doubled our distance plus more important I am back riding in the gear I was in last year with is the 3rd gear usually around 3 to 5.  I can tell my legs are stronger.  We rode the South Sioux bike trail which I must admit isn't that hilly but it was very windy.  The head wind is a killer.

  We like the trail though town as it goes right down the middle of neighborhoods.


    Poor Rick as usual gets slowed down by my pictures.



   When we cut through the high school I saw this poor hawk getting swooped on by these 2 birds.  They were probably protecting their nests.



    It looked big enough to take care of itself though


      They have this weird trail by the school made of recycled tires.  Spongy feeling and smells.



   It was hot today and I forgot my sunscreen.  Since I have had to have some pre-cancerous moles removed that wasn't the brightest thing and I could tell I was burning already.  Still I was having a great time.  I have mentioned I love to ride?

     This trail ends at the lake.  We stopped at the dock.



     In the water you could see all these small bluegill. 


       They are a pain when your fishing as they nibble your bait off and aren't any fun to catch. Except for the kids love it.  They hide in the seaweed.



     We took the long way back and looked for some sprinklers to ride through but no one has to water with all the rain we have been having.  Bummer.  So we stopped by the river at one of the sand beaches.



    We left our bikes on the grass and went down to soak our feet.  I love riding in croc's because you can just walk on in.





      Then we sat on the bank and rested while my feet dried.  It was lovely out.





      So that was our ride.  2 months to get ready for the Black Hills.  I can't wait.

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