Well, another summer of bike riding is behind me. I started riding on March 28th and finished on October 19th. I would have ridden longer in October but the weather wouldn't cooperate. It turned very cold and rainy.
So for the most part the summer was awesome for riding. We only had 1 week of extreme heat and I was only able to ride early morning and even at that it was hot by 9:00am and was hot and muggy all day long including the evening hours. We did have a lot of windy days this summer and there were lots of time that I told myself to only go for a short ride. Well, my "short rides" turned out to be at least 15 miles round trip, if not longer. Once I got going, I didn't want to turn around but lots of times, I wished that I had not ridden so far because of the wind.
Nothing exciting happened on the Rail Trial this summer. I didn't meet any strange people. I did see a guy on roller blades a lot pulling a dog on the leash and I always felt bad for the dog. The poor animal was always panting really hard and I knew he needed to stop and rest but the guy kept on going. I felt bad for dogs like that.
This year when I would ride every 300 miles, Curt and Sarah and Noah would treat me to ice cream at the "Tin Roof Cafe" in Sanford. It's an ice cream restaurant plus they have the best burgers around. So it was always fun to go with them.
At the start of my riding this year, my goal was 4000 miles. And I knew that was way to high as 2 years ago, I just road over 3600. But I thought at least it's a goal and if I don't make it, that's ok. I just wanted to ride as many miles as I could and at least tie my record or break it by a few miles.
So I rode in heat and chilly weather. And sometimes I would get caught in a rain storm. I rode with leaves on the ground and on wet pavement. I rode with bugs hitting my helmet and bugs sticking to me. I rode early morning and toward evening (but not after dark).
I just want to thank God for giving me good health to ride this year, and I want to thank my family for all of their support. My husband, Clif, has been wonderful to encourage me to ride (even when it was raining--but I told him, I don't mind getting wet, but I don't have wipers on my glasses--I can't see when the rain hits me in the face). And thanks to Curt and Sarah and Noah for their support and encouragement. Noah would sometimes be at the window watching me go by. And thanks to Cindy and Ben, Carie, Nathan and Glenn, Chad and Sarah Jane. It's so awesome having a family that will stand behind you when you are doing something that you love to do.
And thanks to all of you, on FB that always encourage me.
Now for the moment you all have been waiting for. My total miles for 2013. Would you believe it, if I told you, I only did 2000 this year? Do you think I made 3000? What about breaking my old record, do you think I accomplished that? Well, would you believe it if I told you I hit 4010 miles this year?
The correct answer is 4010. I still can't believe that I did that many miles. I not only reached my goal but went over. I was so excited when I hit 4000. It actually rolled over in the driveway. I tried to plan it so it would do that, but wasn't sure if it would work or not, but it did.
So that's all until next spring. The total miles on my bike that I have been riding for the past 4 years is 10268. Wow, that is a lot of miles.
See ya again when the "Tread meets the payment."
