Monday August 29, 2011

The chimneys leak around their flashing, the house needs painted, the south side fence is on its last legs, and are you still going to re-design the kitchen?  Doesn't she know I need to put on a good base to be able to do our cross country next year?!  Women!

That was yesterday after a 34 mile Sunday ride with the SVRoadies. Actually, only 14 was with the Roadies on the Path to Frankfort.  I had the need for speed. By doing intervals, hare sprints and barreling ahead and stopping to take pics as the group passed, I was able to do 17 plus mph to FF.  But the group intenerary was to leave FF and go out to Plano Rd and back in SR550, stopping back at FF's Dairy Cone  (something Spencer and I do almost every time we come to FF on the bikepath). I wanted to climb, not stop.

Getting no takers among the more experienced riders, I took off on my own and rode up Davis Hill Rd after traversing through Roxabel.  The air was crisp even at 80º. The shade of the trees lining the climb on Davis Hill helped the steeper sections pass quickly.  BUT the local pick up truck driver just HAD to buzz me with his accelerator floored as he slowly gained speed up the steep ascent; after all he had to slow down to get around me, saving that precious gas that he needed to burn through the idiocy that pervades the locals, sometimes. His neighbor in the jacked up Jeep® HAD to do the same thing two minutes later.

Topping out on SR 28 I headed east a bit until coming down into the saddle which meets Owl Creek Rd.  Turning right onto Owl Creek Rd, I picked up more and more speed until I had to brake at a sweeping curve and registering 40 mph.  The rolling hills of Owl Creek were a welcome change to the monotony that is the bike path is for me.  I met US Rt 50 and picked up my pace to 24 mph using the new wide berm and ignoring the Sunday drivers returning from their afternoon jaunts into the Paint Valley countryside.

Back at home in under 50 minutes from the Brad Lightle Park, I quickly showered and C, Spencer and I piled in JCPaynes pick up to head to Fairfield County to finish the deal and pick up my "new" Cub Cadet from a fellow Craigslister just east of Lancaster.

This afternoon, after a whole bunch of busy work at the Temple and TWO HOURS at the opthmologist's (good report there, though) I was able to start the Cub and do a half hour of badly needed mowing at the Cabin.

Bro-in-law Ron called as I was on Alum Cliff Rd in the Jetta, going out to the cabin.  We arranged for a ride at 1730 from the bike shop.  Chickens tended and yard cut I headed back in to meet Ron and ride the Scioto Trails fire tower ride.  WE burned the road up to the base of the fire tower hill arriving there averaging 17.9 mph for 31 miles.  The climb and return yielded 17.6 overall which included the slow down of city streets on Paint St. I have emphasized exertion instead of miles this year.  We'll see if it pays off next summer.


Note to Preston:
For next weekend at the Cabin... burgers and brats and pork butts smoked and pulled with hot and regular BBQ sauce on the side, Aunt E's potato salad made by Aunt Gretta,  baked beans from Ernie Wills' fish fry recipe, fresh tomato salad and/or fresh salsa and chips. Turbo Dog on tap.
Bud Light iced down and some of the fireside fellowship that we have been holding back since you left.

Back to the dilemma at hand...
Hey Honey! What if I do the whole kitchen project before next Spring? That'll leave you with a new kitchen and me with the Spring riding season to beef up myself for the Oregon to Maryland trip...   Whadda you say? Huh?