2018 mileage: 1142.7
Today is the 25th anniversary of the devastating auto accident that so upended my life (and nearly terminated it). I was run off the highway by another driver, whereupon my car tumbled and ejected me from the window. Upon landing on the pavement head-first, I incurred a Traumatic Brain Injury that left me in coma for 2 months and in the hospital for 6, ultimately unable to communicate vocally any longer.
ANYWAY ... I had intended to celebrate it with a long(er) trike ride this morning—consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, which would have been my first time doing that on consecutive days since October 19-20. But then, shortly before beginning my ride, a college friend (Peter Moberg) commented on Facebook, wishing me a Happy Life Day (which is what Michelle and I call May 22, since the doctor told her I very likely would not live the night), and then adding, playfully, "I think "Life Day" might be a great title for a new musical composition. Know anyone who writes music?"
Eager to get home and get started on a composition with this title and featuring two of my musical passions (a piece for handbell choir, with piano solo), I decided to truncate my plans and only ride a single round trip. This 10.2-mile ride took me a slow 1:19, as I wrote music in my head. 😎
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Monday, May 21, 2018
20th ride of 2018 - Monday, 5/21/2018
2018 mileage: 1132.5
This morning I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for only the second time this year. It was a challenge, but one I was glad to be able to meet.
When I went to the early morning small men's fellowship group I attend, at our church, my friend and ride, Paul, noted to me, "Better get your ride in early today and save the piano practice for later. You can practice when it's raining!" Paul knows that my preference is to practice in the morning—my favorite time of day, and when I am fresh and full of energy and concentration. But I heeded his wisdom, and am glad I did, since rain is projected to me moving in this afternoon, and, as a signal of that, a heavy blanket of clouds rolled in during the morning, obscuring the mostly sunny skies I enjoyed when I began a little past 9:30 a.m.
My ride today of 18.7 miles took me 2:25.
This morning I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for only the second time this year. It was a challenge, but one I was glad to be able to meet.
When I went to the early morning small men's fellowship group I attend, at our church, my friend and ride, Paul, noted to me, "Better get your ride in early today and save the piano practice for later. You can practice when it's raining!" Paul knows that my preference is to practice in the morning—my favorite time of day, and when I am fresh and full of energy and concentration. But I heeded his wisdom, and am glad I did, since rain is projected to me moving in this afternoon, and, as a signal of that, a heavy blanket of clouds rolled in during the morning, obscuring the mostly sunny skies I enjoyed when I began a little past 9:30 a.m.
My ride today of 18.7 miles took me 2:25.
Friday, May 18, 2018
19th ride of 2018 - Friday, 5/18/2018
2018 mileage: 1113.7
I want very badly to get back to the point where consecutive round trips to Marsh Park is my 'default' ride ... but I didn't do it today, either, despite yet another glorious riding day. When I left, at 9:45 it was 61° and mostly sunny; the sunshine held throughout the ride, and by the time I finished the 10.2 miles (a slow 1:21 later, it was up to 65°.
I want very badly to get back to the point where consecutive round trips to Marsh Park is my 'default' ride ... but I didn't do it today, either, despite yet another glorious riding day. When I left, at 9:45 it was 61° and mostly sunny; the sunshine held throughout the ride, and by the time I finished the 10.2 miles (a slow 1:21 later, it was up to 65°.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
18th ride of 2018 - Thursday, 5/17/2018
2018 mileage: 1103.4
What a stunningly glorious day for a ride! Here is the sight (and scent) that confronts me when finishing my rides, on the sidewalk paralleling Lohr Rd., coming up the hill from Oak Valley.
I began just past 8:30, at which time the sky was cloudless and the temperature already 59°. My ride of 10.2 miles took me 1:13—I would have liked to have done two round trips to Marsh Park on such a beautiful day, but schedule was crunching me a bit, so I kept it to one. And by the time I finished, it had soared to 73°!
Also, I went over another mileage milestone (the first in a while, since April 27), going over 1100 for the year.
What a stunningly glorious day for a ride! Here is the sight (and scent) that confronts me when finishing my rides, on the sidewalk paralleling Lohr Rd., coming up the hill from Oak Valley.
I began just past 8:30, at which time the sky was cloudless and the temperature already 59°. My ride of 10.2 miles took me 1:13—I would have liked to have done two round trips to Marsh Park on such a beautiful day, but schedule was crunching me a bit, so I kept it to one. And by the time I finished, it had soared to 73°!
Also, I went over another mileage milestone (the first in a while, since April 27), going over 1100 for the year.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
17th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 5/15/2018
2018 mileage: 1093.2
We have gotten a great deal of rain here recently, the latest being overnight and into this morning. When I rode at 9:15, I had hopes I might escape it—though the air was gray and heavy with moisture, at least no precipitation was falling. But much of the ride ended up taking place in a sprinkle, light to begin with but increasingly heavy late in the ride, and consequently I allowed myself to settle for a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10.2 miles in 1:13. (At least the temperature was very comfortable, however, at 65°.)
I guest conducted the Emerson Orchestra in concert Thursday night in one of my compositions, and then left immediately to take the train to New Jersey to hear one of my compositions in concert Friday night, returning to Michigan early Sunday morning. Between preparations for those two events, and being gone on the trip, I have not been able to ride since a week ago today, so I was glad to get out today for even a modest ride, and hope to be able to pick it up now in coming weeks.
I did eclipse a milestone, of sorts, today also, as I went over 100 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
We have gotten a great deal of rain here recently, the latest being overnight and into this morning. When I rode at 9:15, I had hopes I might escape it—though the air was gray and heavy with moisture, at least no precipitation was falling. But much of the ride ended up taking place in a sprinkle, light to begin with but increasingly heavy late in the ride, and consequently I allowed myself to settle for a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10.2 miles in 1:13. (At least the temperature was very comfortable, however, at 65°.)
I guest conducted the Emerson Orchestra in concert Thursday night in one of my compositions, and then left immediately to take the train to New Jersey to hear one of my compositions in concert Friday night, returning to Michigan early Sunday morning. Between preparations for those two events, and being gone on the trip, I have not been able to ride since a week ago today, so I was glad to get out today for even a modest ride, and hope to be able to pick it up now in coming weeks.
I did eclipse a milestone, of sorts, today also, as I went over 100 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
16th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 5/8/2018
2018 mileage: 1073.3
We are currently stuck in a splendid weather pattern. When I rode today, it was again under a sunny sky, and 70° when I started at 12:15, up to 75° by the time I finished. Feeling the need and desire to get back to composition again, I held it to a single round trip to Marsh Park (though the desire was certainly there to ride more), and this 12.1-mile jaunt took me 1:20 (riding slowly).
We are currently stuck in a splendid weather pattern. When I rode today, it was again under a sunny sky, and 70° when I started at 12:15, up to 75° by the time I finished. Feeling the need and desire to get back to composition again, I held it to a single round trip to Marsh Park (though the desire was certainly there to ride more), and this 12.1-mile jaunt took me 1:20 (riding slowly).
Monday, May 7, 2018
15th ride of 2018 - Monday, 5/7/2018
2018 mileage: 1063.2
I rode outside today for the first time in a week, due to both unfortunate weather and an exceptionally crowded schedule in recent days. However, today was another BEAUTIFUL day for a ride—almost unbroken blue sky, and 66° when I began at 1:15, up to 70° when I finished!
Consequently, I strongly wanted to ride consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, but I found myself wrestling with a difficult dilemma—how to balance my time between competing needs:
(1) Cycling, about which I care deeply, and feel the need to discipline myself;
2) Music, about which I care even more deeply (both piano practice, and composing), and where my real abilities and God-given gifts lie.
So, in the end I limited myself to a single round trip, completing this 10.2-mile ride in a somewhat desultory time of 1:15.
I rode outside today for the first time in a week, due to both unfortunate weather and an exceptionally crowded schedule in recent days. However, today was another BEAUTIFUL day for a ride—almost unbroken blue sky, and 66° when I began at 1:15, up to 70° when I finished!
Consequently, I strongly wanted to ride consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, but I found myself wrestling with a difficult dilemma—how to balance my time between competing needs:
(1) Cycling, about which I care deeply, and feel the need to discipline myself;
and
2) Music, about which I care even more deeply (both piano practice, and composing), and where my real abilities and God-given gifts lie.
So, in the end I limited myself to a single round trip, completing this 10.2-mile ride in a somewhat desultory time of 1:15.
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