Gay Head

The day of the ride out to Gay Head and (for some) back. This is the big ride of the week, approximately 44 miles round trip. There are options and I know I can stop at anytime that I need or want. I have heard a much about this ride and I am nervous. There are 3 legs(each way) on this journey and I was hoping to make it through the first two intact.

The first part is pretty easy, the state forest is mostly flat and a pleasure to ride through. There were some short steep hills & some with curves to maneuver. I was instructed to go as fast as I could down these hills and as soon as I felt resistance on my pedals to downshift so I wouldn't pop the chain off. Well, as we approached the loop de doo's there were sign's saying 'SLOW' & 'STEEP GRADE' just like on a steep highway. I must admit I had to fight with myself to ignore the signs and do what I was told. The first one was straight down and straight up, roller coaster style. I could not make myself pedal, however I did not break either. Once in a while the extra weight on my body comes in handy and it carried me nearly to the top of the hill! Whew. The next one involved a few curves and a hill. Again, I really had to fight my fears and just do it. I called ahead and asked if that was the last one and the only reply I received was laughter. I made it through just fine and it is fun once you relax a bit. We stopped at a store and an outdoor art gallery for a break. Then, onward we pressed and it was easy going at first with just a few hills and also traffic as we were on the road now. Then some big hills, I mistakenly thought these didn't start until the third leg which I had planned on opting out of. I just kept plugging away and and heard a few comment of look at this and here at the top of this hill is a cemetery where John Belushi is buried. I have too say I did not see a lot of scenery, I was to busy pedaling. At one point, Katie (sis-in-law) got off her bike in front of me and I thought "I'll pass her, I am not getting off this bike", I did not get off the bike but I didn't pass either. It was granny gear all the way up those hills!
I didn't take any pictures during this part of the ride either, too busy. We rested again at a store and after a few minutes I felt fine and I started toying with the idea of riding the rest of the way. I asked about the hills ahead and was told that they were not any worse than the ones I had just ridden. I decided to go for it! I have to admit the first big hill I had some words with myself and I was not congratulating myself on the decision I had made. But I pushed through it, my internal dialogue was pretty funny in retrospect lots of swearing and lots of "Little Engine That Could" getting me through those big hills. I made it to the top with much screaming on my part and cheering from everyone else. What a feeling!

Katie and I, just after reaching the top! Elation! And a red face.
View from the top. This is where we sat to eat lunch.

Here is the beach, a bit further down is nude, I decided to be respectful and not take photos of them.

This is right after I made my big decision to ride back. What a beautiful place.

This is the last pic I took that day. The ride was long and hard and I loved it. Katie & I went our own way and I must take credit for the first wrong turn and then it started to get dark and we went wrong again and our cell phones had died and there were no houses or stores. Luckily, we spotted a truck pulling out of a street and stopped him, he kindly gave us a ride back to the house.

We entered the house at 9:30pm to the sound of cheering!

Back From Martha's Vineyard & I'll Never be the Same Again

First there was this (I am the one farthest away in the pic) and lots of it through the beautiful state forest with bike paths. It was very flat and the weather was perfect, easy and pleasant riding.

Then onto this path, which lead to this...

THE BEACH! That was pretty much how the days went plus a little shopping and relaxing. Not too hard to take. And the nights oh the nights...what they say is what happens on the Vineyard stays on the Vineyard. What I will say is I had a lot of fun and I had a few drinks and laughed a LOT. By Wednesday I was totally beat I didn't sleep well and after about a mile told my companions that I couldn't ride that day because I was too tired. Which was a very good thing because then came Thursday, the day of the BIG RIDE...

To Be Continued...

Bike Trip

It is very early in the morning and my bike is in the truck and I am all set to go. I am anxious to go. In a way I've been getting ready for 8 weeks, that's when I started exercising. I was invited on this Bike Trip about a week later, it has kept me motivated. Now it is before 5 am and I am all set and ready to go. I have had a crazy week and I am set to have a crazy week when I return. But this week starting today is all about doing what I want-I am not sure what it will entail as I have not been involved with the planning at all. This trip has been happening for over 20 years and the women who plan it have had a bit of practice. I hadn't thought about is previously but I am the planner when it comes to any sort of trip that myself or my family go on. So this time I just sent a check and the whole thing has been planned out already. All the coordinating, shopping, renting of the house, all the details have been taken care of. It is kind of amazing for me. All I have to do is show up.

I am a bit nervous...I still have a way to go before I consider myself fit. But, I am going for it. I will be back in a week and I will do my best to post next Sunday before the crazy week starts. Have a great week everyone, I know I will...

Try To Hold It All Up or Just Get Out From Underneath?

We all seem to lead lives of extreme busyness (business). With. Too. Much. Too. Do. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and you get so rushed and stressed that you smash your finger in the car door. Right before an actual date night. Instead of going out to eat you spend the evening in the ER and it is not interesting like on TV, just boring and painful. Not so fun.

Then a trip to Colorado to spend some time with Mom. Taking an extra few days more than planned because it's important, Mom lives far away. When there less than 24 hrs when get a fever that goes up and up for several days finally peaking at 103.6, and then after going down it stayed around 99.5 for the rest of the time there. It really put a damper on visiting.

Return home to: new employee gone bad and the fun of letting her know that she didn't make it past her probationary period. Search for new employee, frustrating. Still having effects of trip Virus at random times: light headed, dizzy, headaches, fatigue. Eldest child in distress and needing rescue (1100 miles away). Etc, etc, etc.

Then the good parts:

The employee (you know who you are) who I can depend on no matter what!

The sometimes entertaining task of finding a new employee, some people really don't want a job despite the fact that they show up an ask for an application. It can be funny what they say or ask (Will you change your store hours to fit my schedule?). Oh, and a tip for all you job hunters out there: washing is good.

Going away overnight for 22nd wedding anniversary.

Finding a new employee! Yaaayyy! (cross your fingers)

Getting invited on a women's bike trip for a week on Martha's Vineyard!

Joining http://sparkpeople.com and changing my lifestyle.

Life is busy but the good seems to outweigh the bad so I guess I'm gonna keep on going.

If I actually have any readers left please click on the comment link and let me know you are there and if I should continue writing this blog.

It Is Really Spring and I Am Outta Here

Happy Spring!

You can tell it is really spring because of the above example of the humble and much maligned dandelion. I wanted to try to make some dandelion wine this spring but that is not in the cards this year. I must say I have not had much time to post lately and last week I slammed my finger in the car door and it is pretty screwed up. One handed typing is not so fun. Hence the no posting.

I am off in a bit to go to Colorado and visit my Mom and get some much needed R&R. So just a quick post before I head out the door. Don't give up on me!

I will be back in good time for the arrival of Black Fly Season!

Cheesemaking to Follow

Guess where I went yesterday with my son's 4-H group? Yes, that's right a sheep farm. I was in heaven (Now of course, I want some sheep of my own. As well as some chickens and maybe a couple of goats. It was always a fantasy of mine to produce my own food or at least some of it.). I think of everyone there I may have been the most excited, I kinda felt like a kid myself. Sometimes being a Mom takes you places that you might never get to on your own. At least, for me that is true.

We had a cheese tasting and then the children feed some of the sheep and we got to hold the lambs. Brand new baby lambs. It's too bad my camera battery was dying, the were very cute. Then we went to the dairy and watched as all the equipment was made ready. Then came the milking, the above photo shows the sheep all lined up ready to be milked. It was fun and interesting and just so basic. When we have milk or cheese we just don't really think about the animal and what it takes to produce these products, we are all so detached from it. I think that most people prefer it that way. I myself was fascinated by the whole thing. First they are washed and then they are hooked up to the machine. They get a little smack or some manipulation so their milk lets down, their udders and teats are constantly being touched and checked thoughout the entire process. When one group is done another is let in to be milked.

I was given a bag of milk as we left. It was still warm. I will be making cheese in the next couple of days. I am going to be making cheese and possibly some ice cream with our 4-H group in the next few weeks so I have to figure it all out. I have only made cheese once, look here: http://auntkirstie.blogspot.com/2008/01/im-maker-of-cheese.html so I am not exactly a pro. I am however, motivated to learn.

Trying to Review the Book

Here is L checking out the book the morning after I went to the book launch. He looked at it for a little while and we talked a bit about possibly taking some of his drawings and embroidering them on to cloth and making a quilt. He liked that idea.

I read the book for over a hour at 11:30pm when I got home. I don't remember too much, my eyes were glazing over but I was so excited to finally be able to read the book, not much stuck though.

There is a great idea to hang a up a wire(like a clothesline) for art, things found, inpirations, and whatever. I am going to do that, it seems like a good way to display things and yet it is not permanent(except the wire).

I gave embroidery a try the other night, just some practice stitches but it was fun. My brother called me in the middle of it and said "What are you doing? You sound so calm and relaxed." Hmm. Not a comment I hear a lot lately. I know I need to find time for it. I was inpired by The Creative Family. I needed some instuction however, so I pulled out Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. This is a great book it has soooo much information in it. It is different than the guidebooks that are published today-it has everything from embroidery to rug making. Oh and the best part,I bought it at the thrift store for 99 cents! Here are my practice stitches.

So all in all I feel as though I have only skimmed this book and haven't read too much it at all. I am enjoying it and look forward to reading some more. When I find the time.