I’m pleased to say that with rest and medication my back is strong again. But after having taken a week to recuperate I was worried about the loss of training for our long bicycle ride that’s fast approaching. I did a test ride a few days ago and things seemed fine, so this weekend we were “cramming” our rides: 30 miles on Saturday, 40 miles on Sunday, and 50 miles today. I’m happy to say we succeeded (and we’re still standing too!). But our weekend brought a little bit of everything. The last half of our Saturday ride was finished in a torrential downpour. Although we waited out the thunder and lightning in a Subway store, we couldn’t wait out the rain and we arrived home looking like the proverbial “drowned rats”. Sunday’s ride was in 90 degree temps with high humidity and a 25 mph headwind. And today’s ride started with a 10 mph headwind and temps in the 70’s, but we turned the headwind into a great tailwind on the return. We’re fortunate to have access to some wonderful bicycling trails here in Minnesota. Sunday we rode on a segment of the Gateway Trail which originates in Saint Paul. Today we started our ride in Faribault and rode the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail through the woods and pasture-lands of the central area of the Minnesota. This area was once part of the “Big Woods” of the state and provided some welcome shade and beautiful surroundings. Being able to experience the landscape and surroundings on a bicycle is one of the best ways to see an area, and this week we’ve seen a lot!
Month: May 2012
On the road
This weekend called for a trip south to the Kansas City area to attend my nephew’s high school graduation. That was the planned part; the unplanned part was that I strained my lower back a day before we were to leave. Trying to maneuver in and out of a car was quite the test of endurance. But….we persevered and arrived pretty much on schedule. What I didn’t realize was that my back would continue to get worse over the next couple of days. Try as I might, I was flat on my back in bed the day of the graduation. My family members represented me at the ceremony, and I was lucky to see some cell-phone photos of the event. The return trip home on I-35 North was uneventful, and was the extent of my photographic adventures this weekend. For those of you that thought Iowa was flat, I have photographic proof that’s not the case. The hillsides and pastures are all green from the recent rains, and many of the agricultural crops are starting to peek through the soil. My back is mending, but it’s still not 100%. To my “driver” – thanks! And to my nephew Tanner – congrats on all your accomplishments! We couldn’t be more proud, and we look forward to your future endeavors.
Batting practice
On a beautiful late-spring afternoon I was lucky enough to have tickets to the Minnesota Twins baseball game against the LA Angels. Even better was that I got to go early to see the Twins’ batting practice. The sun was warm, the sky was blue, and our hopes were up for a win that night. After the Twins’ batting practice was over the Angels came out for their warm up. As the sun was moving lower into the sky it created dark shadows from the stadium deck that stretched across the outfield. For awhile it seemed most of the action was anywhere but in left field, as these three players seemed quite content to rest on their bats, soak up the sun, and cast long shadows over the green turf. In the end, the Angels beat the Twins. But I’ve learned that baseball isn’t just about wins and losses – it had been a beautiful afternoon and night for a baseball game.
Sasquatch sighting in Minnesota
I spent 30 years living in the Pacific Northwest with its rain forests, mountains, and snow-filled valleys. Never once during that time did I ever see a Sasquatch. They were reported many times over the years, but there was never any photographic evidence of its existence. So you can imagine my surprise when yesterday I spotted a Sasquatch right here in my very urban neighborhood in Minnesota! And to top that off, he was even ready to go celebrate Cinco de Mayo – sombrero in place, a great black moustache, and maracas to keep the beat! I hope he enjoyed the festivities and the celebration as much as I enjoyed finding him around the corner in my very neighborhood.
lindastaatsphoto.com 