Refreshing the Land

I was really content enough with the afternoon shower, cooler temperatures, and a few minutes to ride around the 3-mile loop (with fenders) on wet pavement. The view was a special bonus.

Poetry Corner Update

Because you might not always think to check for updates to this blog's Poetry Corner, I've included the update in this space. I've got one in mind from Wendell Berry that might be added soon...or not. Today's update...

Nothing completes
a father's joy
like his children knowing
that life is for growing
ever true
that truth
sets free
and Christ risen
is their victory.

More Sanger Sights

As promised, another Saturday morning ramble was launched so that I could further illustrate some of the interesting sights in Sanger, Texas. The ramble actually included accomplishing a few other minor tasks. It was bordering on efficient, but I was (after all) traveling by bicycle. Let's ramble, shall we?

Once underway, it didn't take long to spot these demon-possessed cows.

Those creepy eyes, even without coffee, woke me up. So I zipped briskly down the nearby gravel road.

Approaching slopiness, it was time for a haircut. This was most convenient since one of the interesting Sanger sights (omitted from my last post) is Narci's barber shop.

Narci is the scissor master of the one-chair barber shop in Sanger and an all-around great guy. He replaced the original 1920's vintage chair with this modern one built in 1963 several years back.

Next stop, coffee shop. I had no coffee in the house this morning and was ready for my morning cup and a little extra to brew up later. This photo shows (from left-to-right), Texas-sized coffee cup, standard coffee cup, coffee roaster. Yep, they roast 'em right here.

I'm a little surprised that I did not get a photo of Babe's during my last Sanger tour. This decidedly non-health food restaurant is one of the local claims-to-fame. Homemade bisquits, sorghum syrup, chicken fried steak, excellent singing waitresses, and the hokey-pokey. As a former Houston resident, I appreciate the sign hanging on an inside wall that says, "Life's too short to live in Houston". Come hungry.

Come hungry and come early. If you come at normal eating times, you'll sit out here with many others admiring the tractor, salivating, and waiting to get in.

I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of this old tractor sitting out front.

Then it was back into the surrounding countryside with barns, tree-lined roads...

...views over the treetops...

...more pastures...

...and this aged barnside with decorative fence, fading paint, and a few differenct colored boards to make it interesting.

Let's see...bicycle transport, interesting sights, haircut, and coffee run. Yep, that is one excellent recipe for delicious Saturday ramble.

Down in Texas

To my friends who might not be aware, I am an occasional contributor to another blog. Veloquent, is the other blog and is authored by some of the finest bicycle bloggers out there. I begged to be a contributor and they humored me. I'm the high school social outcast being allowed to hang out with the cool kids for awhile.

A few of my favorite prior posts from here were copied and included there. But I suggest you go to Veloquent to read posts from the other talented authors. It really has some excellent writing and has been an inspiration.

The name of my recent post on Veloquent is "Down in Texas".

Dose of Reality

Considering the numerous ride reports included in this blog, photos of my bike leaning against various items around the state, and the Kent Peterson quote over to the right of this blog page, some might think I spend a freakish amount of time on my bike. Actually, I spend a freakish amount of time in a motorized vehicle, but I don't write about that (usually) because I don't like it. I like riding my bike, so that is what I talk about. Until today, when I checked the driving numbers. I did the math and quantification of what I'd been whining about to my beloved made it all the more real. It was a dose of reality that was difficult to swallow.

I bought a new pick-up in the fall of 2007. In 9 months, I've accumulated over 30,000 miles. After doing the calculations, I realized that I average over 100 miles per day. That's every day, including weekends, for 9 solid months. I think a reasonable assumption is that I might average about 50 mph. A lot of my miles are interstate, but a fair amount are in town and in Dallas area stop-and-go traffic. If we assume a 50 mph average speed, that means I spend over two hours of every day driving. Two hours of every day, including weekends, for 9 solid months. I did the computation twice because I couldn't believe the numbers the first time.

Kent Peterson, and other non-car-owners, are an inspiration to me and show what is possible. For me, it looks like I first need to work on trying to approach just an average amount of driving, then see if I can reduce further.

I desperately want those two hours a day back.

S24O Reconn

Given the limited length of my rides of late, today's pre-S24O reconnaissance activity might be considered (in my mind) an epic excursion. Even so, it was only 3.5 hours from start to finish. For those not familiar with the term "S24O", it is an abbreviation for "sub-24-hour-overnight"...which is also an abbreviation for "a bicycle overnight camping trip that takes less than 24 hours".

The idea being that we don't always have lots of time to go camping, but we can squeeze in a very nice little get-a-way that doesn't require a huge investment in time...or lugging huge amounts of gear. One can depart after work on Friday, ride to a suitable camping spot, set-up a minimalist camp, relax for the evening by cooking, hiking, reading, etc. The morning provides an opportunity for lounging for awhile and a leisurely camp break-down for the return back home.

I am lucky, because I have a suitable camping spot within an easy 2 hours (even with camping gear) of my house. Although I was hopeful, I didn't fully realize this good fortune until today. Today was the day of the S24O Reconn.

Because of the excessive heat lately, it required an early start. It was very pleasant initially, but when the sun climbed over the horizon, it was as if someone flipped the heat switch to the "on" position.

It wasn't really too bad out there. It wasn't until the very end, after the temperature had reached about 98 degrees, that I really noticed discomfort. Riding southwest into the wind, I thought, "This must be what it is like to ride into a giant hairdryer."

Most importantly, the reconn trip was a success. There is a Texas State Park on Lake Ray Roberts that has several suitable campsites on a peninsula that protrudes southward into the lake. That allows for the predominant summer breeze to blow lake-cooled air right into the tent. During late fall or winter, there are options for forested areas to break-up the north wind or open places to take full advantage of the sunshine. This nice little spot was a great place to cool off before returning home today.

I've been trying to get my buddy, cyclist, and Sulphur Springs, TX resident, Keith to join me on an S24O near my house. Hey, Keith, when the days get cooler, I know just the spot.

Air Gus

All I can say about today's after dinner activities is that if you think your going to walk across my backyard holding a hot dog straight up over your head...and think that YOU will be the one eating it when you get to the other side...well...




...think again.