Still Fishing

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, I rode past the old stone quarry where people fish. When I noticed the strange looking bicycle there I scanned the shore. Sure enough, there was the man I had talked with earlier this summer. He was still tipping and still fishing. The high temperature Saturday was 27 degrees F. It was a wonder to me that someone could stand fishing for hours in that temperature. I guess it wouldn't be much different from ice fishing, except this man had no shelter. Thinking of possibilities, it occured to me that there might be other reasons for his activities than fishing. Perhaps the fishing was an excuse or a justification for escape from his other realities. I suspect the tipping of the bottle might enter into the equation. I wished peace for him and hoped he stayed warm and safe.

2009 Summary

2009 was a good year for our group. Often there were people from First English Lutheran and from the community riding together. Fellowship and good times were shared each week. We even saw some new riders and welcomed the time with them as they learned some of the dynamics of group rides.

Our average distance per evening ride was 16.1 miles. 12.5 miles per hour was the average speed we covered the routes with. The record shows there were twenty evening rides this season. I can see just two or three rides were a little quicker than the others. Probably only a few riders were present those evenings, and the pace was quickened when all agreed to.

Thanks to all who participated! Let's ride more next year.

Fall's Fall

October 20Th was a delightful day. High sixties for temperature and plenty of sunshine. A few of the riders rode 9-10 miles before our regular start time. Four riders started at the 5:30 pm time and completed 16 miles at 11.8 mph average. I only found one penny and had to catch up with the group after going back to pick it up. Just like life; we often depart from the group when an opportunity is seized.

Participants were kind enough to agree on my destination of "Blue Clay Falls," south or Richmond. I give thanks to my fellow riders for going where I wanted.

My goal is to obtain four seasons of photographs of Blue Clay Falls, and a Fall picture is not in my collection yet.

Our ride was nearly one and one half hours in length. The sun was down when we returned to the church. Since the time changes on November 1st we will only have one more week of daylight to ride. I look forward to some riders next week for the last weekday ride of the season.

No Fair

October 13, 2009. Last week was rainy and no one rode. 52 degrees F and overcast this week discouraged most of our riders. With no fair weather friends I was the only rider. It felt like early in the season when I was alone. Only 12.3 miles at a leisurely 12.8 mph average was my evening ride.


There was an interesting character who made the ride quite an experience. I first saw him, far ahead, after I made a turn onto the road he was on. As the distance between us diminished I could see a fishing pole stuck out the back of his bicycle. His winter coat, with the fur collar, was also evident. Several cars coming from behind made passing impossible for a few minutes. Then, as I began to go around, I announced, "There are lots of things passing you tonight." An instant and angry reply stated definitely that he did not care. A few more gruff statements and his final words were, "...I like to bicycle. "

I completed about the middle third of my ride and returned past where I thought he would be fishing. Sure enough, he was by the lake. I stopped to apologize for making him angry with my statement about passing. I assured him it was just an attempt to be friendly.

Almost right away he began to talk about his bicycle and I got the whole tour. It had a console full of switches for turning various lights on and off. There were fog lights, tail lights, head lights and more. It took two small twelve volt batteries to operate all of his accessories. I noticed, and mentioned, that he even had a light on his head. That launched him into stories about how unsafe this road was for bicycles, and how the light could get him back to town.

The light strapped to his head was going to help him in another way. He told me he was, "...going to catch one of those big catfish!" What an uncomplicated life this man had for the evening. He enjoyed his bicycle ride to the, "...old fishing hole," and his remaining tasks were to catch a fish, and get home safely. I thought I was doing well just to enjoy the bicycle ride. It probably did us both good to have a few minutes of conversation and recognize each other for what we considered important that evening. I don't think he was angry when I left.

Season End Scurry

This Tuesday 9/29/09 saw us scurrying to complete our ride before darkness and we were not the only ones active. Squirrels scattered swiftly, at our approach, interrupting their search for anything to eat. The duo of riders on the tour this evening saw a big fat groundhog scurry for cover. Finally, near the end of the ride, we noticed the sky full of a flock of swirling Turkey Vultures; chaotically sweeping past each other, seeking a shelter for roosting as the darkness approached.

16.8 miles at a pace of 11.6 mph were the statistics of our ride. I hauled in two pennies on the trip home from the start finish point.

We talked a lot and, of course, I thought the ride was great. Wind out of the northwest helped us home, since we rode out more or less against it. Temperature in the fifties encouraged us to wear a little more clothing. Turkey Vultures gathering for their eminent departure, the lower thermometer reading, and shorter days all promised the season would soon be over. We enjoyed it while we could and look forward to next weeks ride.

Equinox

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. Day and night length are the same. The dusk was creeping upon us as we neared the end of today's ride. Part of the darkness was due to clouds in the west, but it will soon be short evenings for riding.

I had to go back for a quarter on the road. Saw a penny embedded in the asphalt and left it there. The coins are reminders, to me, of opportunities and blessings. When the ride is over, I toss the picked up coins in a jar. I'll total them at the end of the year and think of all the blessings the year held.

Only three riders started and one had to leave early for Church Council. Two of us finished 13.2 miles at a 10.9 mph average speed. It was an enjoyable evening, as are most evenings on the bike. We hope for several more before the year ends.

Corn Canyons

The soybean leaves were turning as we rode through the corn canyons of Midwest farms. We commented on how good the year had been for growing crops. Late in the ride we saw four deer. The group was a mother and what appeared to be triplets. It has been a good year for many growing things.

We passed through an neighborhood west of town that was a first time experience for me. Both of us noticed that the folks dwelling there were just surviving. The cars in driveways and general appearance of the homes suggested just enough to live. There was no fixing up, fresh paint, or plush landscaping. This perspective allowed me to appreciate the relative abundance I enjoy.

We passed an old building, that was once a home, standing several yards from the road. I wondered, as we passed, what emotions the walls of that house would reveal if they could. What feelings might had been enjoyed at family meals inside? Were there arguments between those who once lived there? I imagined joys of newborn babies and gleeful shouts of growing children. Yet, now the grounds and the walls stood silent. Life changes around us all of the time. It would have been interesting to know what circumstances led to the house no longer being lived in.

There were only two riders and one coin was found. We noted a total distance of 21.4 miles and an average speed of 14.5 miles per hour. Even with the extended time for the ride, the sun was still above the horizon at our completion. I look forward to more nice rides as we end the summer and move into Fall.