Riding now, riding later

I left early this morning to ride—plug myself into the day and just feel the world. The temperature was 21 degrees Fahrenheit with a 20 MPH wind when I left. Snow was in the air and little wisps of snow blew over the road in places. I stopped at one point to make a photograph and that was a mistake. Hands froze immediately in the wind when I took off my gloves to fiddle with the camera. They never did get warm again until I pulled into the local library about 45 minutes later.

After about 20 minutes in the library to look at books and writie in my journal I headed to the Vespa dealer to see if I could get them to mount the rear rack I ordered. Good thing about frigid days is that no one has their bikes in the shop. fifteen minutes is all it took to have the thing mounted and be on my way.

As the warmer weather nears I have started thinking about longer rides. Day trips, perhaps and overnight. I want to ride to Ohio to visit my dad’s grave. Haven’t been there since he was buried. My friend Paul wants me to go on a real long ride with him to New Mexico. That’s 2000 miles one way. I don’t have that kind of time now that I’m working, but maybe one day. I just rented “Long Way Round”, the documentary of Charlie Boorman and Ewan MacGregor riding round the world. 200 days. I’ll live that trip vicariously.

Anyways, the microwave is dinging telling me that my tea is ready. Apologies to purists, I heat water in the microwave and use bags. The Earl Grey is hot though….