WARNING: the bicycling nurse is also a hunter.

Had yet another great night out with the Tri-City crew last night, but the days are growing shorter and the season will end soon. Then, we'll go to mountain bikes with lights and do urban assaults which is just as much fun!
We lit out last night to do our usual thing, but at about 7 miles out it began to drizzle and about 9 miles out the bottom fell out; had a real frog-strangler (or gulley-washer, depending where you're from). Fortunately, there was a shed where several of us took shelter until the bulk of the rain passed, then we headed home. I managed to get in 19.89 miles at an average speed of 17.3 mph which is pretty good for me. According to my schedule, that'll have to do me until Tuesday. Work is always getting in the way of riding; that's okay, going to the mountains to ride next Saturday!!
I warned you earlier that the cycling nurse is also a hunter; I like meat, so what is better than an animal that has spent its life in total freedom, eating off the land, to produce meat that is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef and generally just healthier? I and my family enjoy the taste of venison however it's prepared, and I enjoy sitting in a tree for hours at a time in hopes of harvesting some.
Last year was not a good year for this, as I did not see one single deer unless I happened to be driving (not the way I want to obtain deer meat!). This year perhaps offers something different: on the second day of our season, I harvested this calico deer.I have never had the good fortune to see a calico on the hoof; seen several hides hanging on the walls of fellow hunters' homes, but never walking through the woods.
To be honest, I didn't think I'd see ANYTHING today. It takes me about an hour to get from home to hunting ground, and the whole way I am thinking it is way too windy for any deer to be moving. I needed to go though, so I could put out corn, and since I was there I might as well get in the tree, right? In the air, in the dark, and as it got lighter, I was cat-napping and still thinking, "what a waste of time."
I think deer are part ghost, though, because you can not see one there and then turn your head and there they are! This was the case; I nodded off, opened my eyes, and two deer are snacking on my cornpile. A better look revealed a third deer, well, just her back half, enough to know she was calico! The other two walked around practically begging to be targets, but the one I wanted was happy where she was and would not move, only showing her back half.
I waited for what seemed like forever and finally got the opportunity to take her down; she dropped like a rock. Now, I will have some of the tastiest sausages to throw on the grill over the coming year! Those really come in handy after a long bike ride, and are much healthier than what flows out of these hog farms nowadays, all pumped up on steroids and antibiotics.
But going to the woods is not all about killing, don't get me wrong. There is no more peaceful thing to do than to sit alone in the woods and witness nature at work. You will see things you could never imagine and will leave those woods a better person. Try it and see. Then go get on a bike and see what a better person that makes you.
Be blessed, be safe.

9/11/2011

Ten years ago today we, as a nation, were attacked viciously by those who would destroy our American way of life. They failed miserably, but at a high cost. May God continue to bless and comfort the families of the thousands that died that day.
Instead of spending the day in front of the television watching others rehash ad nauseum the events of that dreadful day, I went to church this morning where we, in silence, remembered and prayed. Then, I went with some family and friends and did a long bike ride under blue skies in a land that is still free and home to many brave individuals who would run into a burning building tomorrow to save the helpless, if that be the hand dealt them. Thank God for people like that.
Be blessed, be safe.

9 September 2011

Got miles for the third day in a row; went out through Dutch Fork with my friend, Dr. John, who happens to like triathlons. He's a real hammer, but merciful. He really pushed me, but did not slaughter me; I like riding with cyclists who are better than me, and no, it's not because there are so many to choose from. It's because I push myself harder when I do. We covered over 32 miles in less than two hours giving me an average speed of 16.7 mph. It's all relative.
I will rest my legs tomorrow and go to my brother's house Sunday after church, where we and two others will do a 50 mile route working together in a paceline. Hopefully, we can ride more like a team and really blister it in the Tour de Camden this year. I know, it's a ride, not a race, yadda yadda yadda; still, we are trying to get better at this game, right?
Be blessed, be safe.

8 September 2011

Had a great ride with the Tri-City crew tonight; pushed it and actually averaged 17.0mph for 26.17 miles. That's a good improvement for me, I'll take it!

Close to Home

Got out and rode today, but kept it close to home. The road I live on is only a half-mile long, but just down from me is a hill that's a little over 5%, so I did hill repeats and got in a great workout. Climbed over 800 feet in a little less than 11 miles, and in less than an hour. I am planning on going to the upstate to ride the end of the month and don't want everyone to have to wait too long for me to catch up! I love to suffer up White Oak Mountain, the Greenville Watershed, and just about any road leading to Saluda, NC; being off the bike for six weeks really set me back and I have a lot of catching up to do just to get back to where I was.
I have been out with the Tri-City group in Cayce last couple of weeks and that has been a huge help, as well as a lot of fun. There are enough people out there of every different level of rider that I can always find someone to hang with. If you're around Columbia on a Tuesday or Thursday and want to get a ride in around 6pm, we leave from behind the Farm Bureau building on Knox Abbott. Always a great time!
Be blessed, be safe.

"On the Road Again..."

I haven't posted in a while, because I haven't ridden for the last six weeks. But, alas, my time has come! Got back on the road tonight with the gang over at Tri-City and had a great comeback ride! Couldn't ride the full distance, just didn't have the endurance; I ran out of energy, and my shoulder began to ache. I did, however, hold a decent pace (for me) of 16.8 mph. I was just glad to be outside on a bicycle. Not being able to ride has been more painful than a busted up shoulder! Already looking forward to my next ride!
Be blessed, be safe!

19 July 2011

Yes, I hate the fact that I crashed; if I could go back and re-live that day, I'd roll over and go back to sleep. But, it happened, move on. The one major silver lining of that black cloud is this: it happened two days before the start of this year's Tour de France. Now if you get handed lemons, that's some pretty good lemonade! I have been able to watch every minute of the most epic race ever and then some. It has been full of mayhem, pain, and surprise, every step of the way. Every time a rider went down, and that's happened quite often, I would get a twinge in my own broken collar bone. Fortunately, or not, I will be returning to work on Thursday, three stages away from Paris; pray my DVR functions properly.
Even with the Tour on, it has still been a long three weeks. The first week I had to sleep (or try to) semi-reclined on my sofa, unable to lay flat and breathe at the same time. I felt like breathing may have been the priority here. Every little move would jostle my shoulder and feel like I was being run through with a sword. The second week went better, with decreasing pain and a trip to the ortho doc. I went in to ask him for surgery and he showed me my x-ray which said surgery was not an option. Imagine if you will, the clavicle divided into thirds; now imagine the middle third shattered into four or five pieces. Add to that, unable to comfirm by x-ray but based on my symptoms, one or more cracked/broken ribs. I am breathing normally now, but still unable to complete a sneeze. Time heals all wounds, back for follow-up films in a couple of weeks to ensure everything is healing properly.
So what does one do with all this down-time, other than study the Tour? Work on the weight loss goal for next year's Assault on Mt. Mitchell. I have not been exerting myself so there's no good reason to continue to eat as normal. Based on needs for basic metabolism, that is, what the body needs calorie-wise just to sit still, I have been taking in around 100 calories about every hour. That has shown some success, I have dropped 5 pounds in the last two weeks and I am feeling full with smaller amounts. The one fear I have is that the weight lost may be muscle rather than fat, so today I start easing back into exercising with some time on the treadmill. My plan, with the doc's approval of course, is to get back on the trainer August 1st, and back on the road two weeks later. I think I'll go ride with the folks in Cayce, I have missed them.
If I am to get back on the road soon, I'll be needing to get my gear in order. I have already bought a new helmet, a Bell Volt. I need to order new nose-pieces for my glasses as one of them became dislodged in the scuffle. And of course, my bike; a trip to Harrell's for a tip-to-tail once-over and I'll be good to go. Mentally, I know it may be sketchy once I get out there, but I am anxiously looking forward to riding again. Soon. You can bet I'll be more cautious in the turns.
Be blessed, be safe.