Stars and Stripes

Today was hot. Appropriate for July 4th, I realize. But after a month of rain and clouds, it was a shock. Riding down Greenwhich Road I kept telling myself, “you’re acclimatizing, you’re acclimatizing, It won’t feel this bad on the next ride,” as my stomach was flipping from the heat.

I rolled into my parent’s driveway and immediately got a report from my ever-ready weatherman.

Dadddy: “Hey! How was the ride?” (all sweaty himself from cutting down tree branches with Chad)

Amy: “Hot. What’s the temperature anyway?”

Daddy: “It’s like 79 or 80 but the humidity is 74%”

Amy: “Where were these clouds an hour ago when I was dying out there?”

Daddy: “To the west.”

Thanks Pop. I especially appreciate the exactness of his report. Note: the humidity was 74%. No estimating for Ken, no sir.

Despite the heat it was a good ride. I realize it is a great luxury to have as my priority for the day riding 30 miles on my bicycle. I am thankful for that. I am thankful for a great family to hang out with the rest of this holiday. I am thankful for the puppies, they wait so patiently, don’t they?


Ah, and I am thankful for freedom. It is Independence Day so I will be thankful for that, just for today. During my ride I saw another cyclist wearing an American Flag jersey...blue backed stars across his shoulders, red and white stripes down his back. I was briefly jealous. Then I remembered I smush all my patriotic feelings into this one day. And I don’t wear holiday-themed clothing. Ever.

One scary moment from the ride: I was out on 31st St S winding around Spirit Aerosystems (formerly known as Boeing) when I almost crashed. I was convincing myself to go two more miles before turning around for home to make sure I hit the 30 mile mark…so I guess I was a little distracted. I reached down for my water bottle, the one that rests against the down tube of my bike because the bottle that is easier to reach was empty. As I leaned down I must have stretched my knee out too far away from the bike because I managed to unclip my right shoe. My foot swung out and back and kicked my rear tire and as I tried to correct the ensuing swerve (with one hand since I had also successfully removed the water bottle and was holding it with my right hand) I went back and forth and back and forth inside my traffic lane. Thankfully there were no cars around, being a holiday and all. I really have no idea how I avoided falling over. But I didn’t, nor did I stop. I found my balance and clipped back in. Lucky. I had visions for the next several miles of chewed up skin, ripped shorts and a very sorry phone call to my parents requesting a pick up.

It is quite possible that I will crash before I get to Tucson. I would just like for it to come from a slightly more impressive reason than, “I was reaching for my water bottle.” Something involving the rescue of small children, perhaps.