2021 mileage: 2412.6
Today is the 51st anniversary of the first Earth Day, which occurred in April 1970. I was then a seventh grader, and I remember it quite clearly. So it was good to be able to do an outdoor ride today.
It ALMOST didn't happen, though. When I began (at 11:00 a.m.), I figured I'd have no trouble with the 42° temperature, fortified by my St. Olaf Choir fleece over a hoodie, and my gloves. But what I didn't reckon with was the brisk, snappy 14 mph wind out of the west. When I stepped out into it, I very nearly decided to turn around and go ride inside on our stationary bike today.
I'm glad, however, that I persevered, and rode the Packard/Platt Square (13.4 miles) in 1:26. I experienced an unfortunate incident, however, about 2 miles into the ride. I came up behind a man walking a small dog. The walkway was wide at that point, and I slowed and gave him a wide berth. However, he was evidently startled by my passing him without a verbal warning (which, of course, I can't give), and as I pulled away from him, he called out angrily, in a gravelly voice, "Say something, bitch!"
Precisely in the event of such occasions, I had a nice air horn mounted on my old trike, but it died a few years ago. I got a new one, but never was able to get it installed on my old trike, and I'll have to redouble my efforts now to see if I can't get it onto the new one.
I felt very badly about having left him with this negative impression, but of course could have done nothing anyway, so I just threw my hand up in acknowledgment of having heard him, and kept on riding. This was balanced, though, and to some degree washed away from my thoughts, by a nice occurrence about 2 miles before I finished. I came up behind my friend Doug Franklin (as I have several times previously) on his daily walk, and I called out as best I could, "Hi, Doug!" Knowing me and my verbal capabilities well, he called out heartily, as I passed him, "Hello, Allen!"
I reached a new mileage milestone for the year today, too (2400), and with a realistic shot of finishing April with 2500, i'm feeling pretty good about my chances of making my goal of 5000 for the year. With weather having kept my outdoor rides down in number so far this year (today was only the 26th one), I would not be nearly so far along without disciplined use of the stationary bike—but then, that's precisely why we got it, so I'm very grateful for that option.
I would recommend getting a bell Allen. TheY really cut through any other noise very well.
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