Yesterday I decided to drive back to low altitude for a bit. I got a head cold, or something, over the weekend, and thought that it might be better to get to some humidity for a while. Plus, Trudi is flying back to Kansas City on Friday, so I have to be there to pick her up.

It might just be for a bit, since I’m planning to go back out to Colorado for the weekend. It is nearly 600 miles, but the speed limit in Kansas and Colorado is 75 mph, so driving 9 over, it just takes 7 1/2 hours with stops. It has been good driving the Honda InSight compared to my diesel van. Actually, the only good part is using much, much less fuel. The Honda doesn’t really do that great on the highway doing 85. Somewhere in the mid 40’s. It gets closer to 60 in town, but I didn’t drive it much in town. The van, at its best, gets 20, using diesel, which is more expensive. It’s less than $40 to drive to Denver each way in the Honda, so the time is the consideration.

I helped Vincent frame a couple walls in his basement before I left. I learned that I am in no shape for hardly anything, pretty much including cycling. I was so sore yesterday morning from leaning over and lifting things. Man, it is embarrassing. It might be a little from being sick, but I think it is mainly from just being weak. I understand the reasons behind the weakness, but I need to address it sooner than later.

I might need to rethink, or just think, about what a realistic, way more realistic, time frame is to race again. I’m not anywhere close to the level to even consider it as of now. I have to admit that I’m surprised how slowly my hip is healing. I still walk with a pretty good limp and after sitting for more than 15 minutes or so, I have to stand, then wait before I attempt to walk. It has to be just muscle slowing me down now, but whatever the reasons, it is getting super old. This has been the slowest recovery I’ve ever had from a cycling injury.

I’ve spent pretty much the last two months in cool temperatures, so the heat here is going to be a challenge. It isn’t supposed to be that hot the next few days, lower 90’s. I drove thru crazy storms yesterday, then when I got home, it stormed again. I love weather, so it was a treat. It’s wet out now and looking like more rain, which is always good in August.

Okay, I have to reorganize some. Give me a day and I’ll come up with something better here.

Vincent securing the plates to the concrete. The code in Colorado is that you have to hang the basement walls from the floor joists because of ground expansion. Kind of strange.

The basement is full of stuff, so we’re kind of just working around all of it.

Lisa, giving me the evil eye, while she is bobbing around, trying to get Petra to sleep, while eating.

Bromont only gets a micro space in the InSight. He slept all the way. Packing two bikes and all Trudi’s extra stuff took some special packing skills.

Out in Western Kansas for a break.

My driving luck this year. Lots of red always.

Last night’s storm coming in from the West.

I’ve known this for a long time, but I was reading an article over at BikeRadar that addressed how exercise makes people, that are diagnosed with depression, happy. It really doesn’t take a study because, as we all know, we all feel better after riding. The article addresses the endorphins, etc., but there is much more complex that just a bunch of chemicals.

I was thinking exactly the same thing yesterday on the club ride. I haven’t been around Topeka much the past couple months. That is mainly to try to avoid a level of depression, not being able to do a daily routine where I feel productive. But yesterday, was different.

It was super nice going out and riding with the group. It was only 8 or 10 people, but everyone was pretty strong. I have been riding in the wind and it felt great sitting on some, but not too much. The temperatures were in the mid 80’s in the evening, but it was sort of windy. We rode out West to avoid the storms to the East. It really was an uplifting ride. Something that I’ll never take for granted.

It is approaching fall here. I can tell because of the Cicadas. I’ve grown up with Cicadas. Their yearly fall song is something I look forward to. I think the males only sing, but I’m not positive about that. There are 1000’s of different types of Cicadas. I, again, am not sure if the same guys come back to Kansas every year, but I look forward to them.

There is something relaxing about repetition in this respect. I usually try to avoid repetition (cycling is never repetitive), but this is an exception. The song of the Cicadas is nature’s signal to us that summer is starting to wain and fall is fast approaching.

Anyway, whether it was the endorphins or the insects, I did feel much better after riding 2 hours, with friends, yesterday. I guess it’s probably a combination, complex, as life is.