Ouch - an expensive ride this morning

So much to do, so little time...where have I heard that before? So I took the opportunity to combine my errands with a bike ride. Temperatures had broken and were in the 50's when I took off. For me, that is the perfect riding temperature range!

I took off to buy some coffee, going to Hemisphere Coffee Roasters and picking up my normal Papua New Guinea and got half pound of pumpkin pie flavored coffee. Also stopped by the grocery store and picked up some fruit. Rode over to St John's for their Christmas bizarre. I still get excited when I see the majestic bell tower as I approach the church.

I also need some furniture. The family of a friend of mine, someone I worked with years ago, has an Amish furniture store, so I thought I would start there. I got there, walked in and saw exactly what I wanted. But wearing my leathers, I did not get approached by any of the people. Guess I did not look like the buying type. Met my friend's son - last time I saw him, he was a baby!!! I ended up dropping 20 Benjamins there!

I hope I can get out a couple more times yet this year, but time is definitely running out.

A Sunday Ride in the fall

I FINALLY took some time on the bike. It is a warm day, sunny with the colors coming out to celebrate the changing of the season. It is not often when we get these days, especially on a weekend.

I headed out of Marysville (west of Columbus OH) into some of the very rural and hilly part of central Ohio. Plenty of switchbacks, 90 degree turns, and rolling hills. Not much traffic means that I can enjoy the roads as well as the scenery. We have plenty of wooden covered bridges in the area, some old and some newer.

It was a nice diversion, a reminder of why I love my bike, and why I love living in Ohio.

Starting to look back...

The temperatures tell us there is a change of seasons in the air. In a few months, there will be snow on the ground. I look back of the summer and wonder "What Happened?" Not nearly the miles I had hoped to put on the bike. Did not take the adventure I have planned on for years; packing some clothes, tent, sleeping bag and head out with no destination in mind. I did not take the week long trip where I meet unexpected people, and explore unknown places. In short, work trumped free time, and I will loose close to a month of vacation because I cannot afford the time off to take it.

But lets look at the other side of the coin. First, and foremost, I am employed. It provides a sense of contribution, it provides the finances to live comfortably now and hopefully in retirement. It provides the finances to put gas into the bike. I was able to attend the GLVROC rally in Swanton, seeing old friends and new. And got a chance to act as grill chief. I was able to put about 1,000 miles in the saddle as we attended the Interlochen, MI Rally. New friends and old, great roads. And as true every year, there was some rain. I was able to strip out all of the "unnecessary" stuff on my bike. And I had a problem with the bike that would force me to use logic and wrenching skills. Maybe, it really was not that bad!

Even cooler, I have reconnected with VROC.org finding a lot of the "old gang" going strong, and some new people that I am beginning to know. What is unnerving is that there are now over 34,000 members worldwide! WOW!!!

So now, with the cooler weather, the leaves are beginning to change color and fall. It is a beautiful time of year. And that leaves me with one question...Why am I writing this instead of putting some time on the bike?!?!

See ya, I am out a' here!

FINALLY

After rides canceled over and over, I will finally be able to get on the bike this weekend. After a week of vacation that involved work at home at the office, I will be able to get on Kermit once again. Just a 100 mile ride, followed by some camping, and another 100 miles back. Just short rides, but in some difficult heat. In between the rides will be time spent with friends that I have not seen in too long of a time.

I am looking forward to this weekend no matter how it goes. It will be good to get away into a different world, a different focus, a change of the mind. Wind against the chest, music and rumble in the ears.