Drizzle

I ran eight miles on Saturday, which is a not insignificant distance for me.  I followed it up with 50 miles on the bike on Sunday.  That was less of a challenge but it still made me grateful to Dr. Stewart Adams (UK), the inventor of Motrin.  There was a steady drizzle on Saturday’s run and Sunday’s ride was no different, at least for the first 30 miles.  Click on the picture below and zoom in on the glasses/helmet to get a better appreciation for the wet.

Slightly damp while on Rte 29

The Store

I pedaled along Bristow Road and passed the rather rustic general store that has always intrigued me.  I’ve never stopped here, but it’s on my “bucket list.”  I generally pass it by because it is closed on Sundays and it is only 11 miles from home so there is little need to reprovision at that point.  Still, when it is open the elderly proprietor can usually be seen sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch with a dog.  A store like that really should be supported.

Along Old Church Road, I saw a large doe cross the road a few hundred feet in front of me.  She had a notion to double back and stood in some tall grass, staring at me.  When I closed within 50 feet, I was worried she might bolt in front of me.  The resulting collision would have been very unpleasant.  Fortunately for both of us (but mainly for me) she turned and bounded into the woodline – an amazing creature that I was not able to photograph due to my slowness in retrieving my camera from my jersey pocket.

Optimistic horses

I was hopeful that the drizzle would soon stop.  I passed some horses on Crockett Road and they were all standing.  Everybody knows that cows and horses lie down when it is about to rain, so this was an encouraging development.  However, my hopes were dashed a half mile later as I passed a dairy farm and noted well over 100 cows were all lying down in a field.  Already completely soaked and much too far along to turn back, I didn’t let such an omen turn me back.  I pressed on and was pleased to see the drizzle eventually lighten and stop completely around Mile 25.

As I neared the turn from Rte 29 onto Bristerburg Road, I had a pleasant surprise.  An approaching cyclist turned out to be my neighbor, Steve.  He also turned onto Bristerburg Road and we struck up a conversation.  He was curious to know who would be seen in public with a Couch Potato Cycling Team jersey and was pleased to see it was Yours Truly.

Steve

Steve is an exceptional athlete who regularly participates in Ironman Triathlons (two miles swimming, 112 miles on the bike, topped off with a marathon).  He had left on his ride an hour before I did and still had a few hours to go.  He’s a good cyclist, is what I am trying to say.  So I didn’t want to slow him down or embarrass myself, and therefore matched his cruising speed of 20 mph.  This is MUCH faster than I normally ride, but I was enjoying the conversation with Steve and resolved to keep going as long as I could.

At this point, a curious thing happened.  Steve asked me, “Is this your normal pace?” to which I sheepishly admitted it was not.  I normally cruise along at 16 mph and up my pace to about 18 mph when I wish to test the Law of Diminishing Returns (see previous post).  When I told Steve I was simply trying to keep up with him, he replied, “I was trying to keep up with you!”  It turns out Steve prefers a more relaxed speed of about 18 mph.  I was happy to oblige.  It’s interesting (to me at least) that we each were going faster than we wanted in an effort not to upset the other guy.

After eight miles, we parted company.  I was heading for home and Steve was off on another 20 mile loop, which would give him over 80 miles for the day, which is just another day in the saddle (or pool, or running shoes) for Steve.  Someday, I want to grow up to be like Steve.

The last 20 miles home were much drier than the first 30 miles.  An item of interest occurred near Crosby’s Crab Shack, a mere five miles from home, where I happened upon some sort of vulture convention on the roof of a nearby house.  I wouldn’t want to be the owner of that home – it was a very ominous site!

Expect The Unexpected

Today, I went on a rather “vanilla” ride out to the Handymart and back.  It’s about 40 miles and I’ve traveled it many times.  There’s really nothing new to discuss on this route and I toyed with the idea of not bringing my camera.  In the end, I decided to throw it in a jersey pocket and off I went.

About 12 miles into the trip, I came across three vultures sitting on the fence by the side of the road.  I’ve never seen them so close.  I grabbed my camera and took a picture to commemorate the moment.  Unfortunately, I don’t have Tootlepedal’s camera dexterity and one bird flew off while I fiddled with turning it on.  Two of the birds were good enough to pose for me despite my fussing.

Then, at Mile 23, I got to draft some farm equipment.  This plow was puttering along at 14 mph, which was actually a tad slow for me, but it was a unique experience all the same.  After a mile, he pulled over to let us pass, which I thought was nice.  The Mustang behind me then gunned his engine to prove to all of us that he has a fast car.  We were all properly impressed, I guess.

So there you have it – two unusual events captured for posterity due to a last-minute decision to bring the camera, and another example of why we should follow the Boy Scout Motto, and always be prepared.

P.S.  I would be remiss if I did not mention the crash of a U.S. Navy F-18 in Virginia Beach yesterday, the day after we concluded our vacation there.  The crash occurred about a mile from Naval Air Station Oceana, which I pedaled past on my ride Tuesday morning.  The plane slammed into some apartment buildings, destroying three of them and damaging two others.  Amazingly, nobody was killed.  There are, however, 16 families who lost everything they owned and are now homeless.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them.