Sounds funny that "around the lake can be somehow a longer way" but there is more than one way to get around it and I missed a turn into a winding sub and ended up taking the long route. It's all good but this route put me into some pretty hairy traffic. I crossed the same freeway twice on this route and followed along the service drive for a mile and had to cross four entrance/exit ramps, under one bridge and over another.
I don't generally drive in that much traffic and it was a good thing it was long past rush hour. Next time I'll look harder for my other route, this is too stressful to be called bike riding and was very glad once I got back into downtown. A rode rider I am not. More like a pedal pusher. Whew.
Just a tad under 6 miles tonight.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Balloon Fest Tour de Livingston Kick Off Ride and Summertime Fun
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| My Friend Sue who rode with us |
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| Andrew watches the winning balloon |
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| Sue and Deb |
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| Andrew Tubing |
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| Max on Skis |
The day started off with a 5 am wake up and hustle out the door to the Balloon Fest bike ride with my little nephew Andrew, first stop on the 10 mile loop was a fly in at the balloon fest. On the Howell High School grounds there is a giant tartget on the ground and ballonists vie to see who can drop a bean bag closest to the bulls-eye. We watched this balloon land one smack on center! After the ride and breakfast we headed over my friend Lisa's and Andrew and her son Max had some fun on the water with water skiing and tubing. Later the boys spent and hour hunting baby frogs and landed about 40-50 of them. Capped the day off with a pool party at my sister's house. Summertime fun with a capital "F"!
Here are some links to the videos of the boys having fun on the lake.Max Skiing, A short shot of Andrew tubingMax Tubinglastly more of Max tubing
Friday, June 24, 2011
Chef Deb
Prior to doing my current line of work I owned and operated a restaurant in the small town of Pinckney from 1984 to 1999. During those fifteen years I was able to realize several passions of mine and put them to use. I enjoyed cooking, creating things and entertaining. A great combo if you are in the restaurant business. During those years I learned a lot from the cooks and chefs who worked for me, most were pretty amazing people. Demonstration cooking is fun and because I love it and enjoy entertaing a crowd I volunteered to do a guest apperance at our Farmer's Market this week and demonstrate how to make "the perfect omelet."
What a blast! I had forgotten how much fun it is to cook for an audience. I rounded up some gear, packed up five dozen eggs and what seemed like all but the kitchen sink (on second thought, I brought that too) along with some fresh picked herbs from my little herb garden.
Within 15 minutes I was set up and in business, cooking omelets, chopping herbs and generally having a very good time. I took goodwill donations in a can for our Fire Department which is working to raise funds to purchase a new thermal imaging camera. Our local Kiwanis clubs are holding fund raisers for the department and one of our local businesses has pledged to make up any shortfall (there will be a significant shortfall) for the purchase. It was all good fun, entertaining and I had a really great time and raised a couple of bucks for a good cause!
Oh yes, today ends week #12 of riding and I finished the week with 39.74 miles. Staying pretty consistent and exploring miles of dirt roads right in my own backyard.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Great ride and great people make for a fun time
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| Pre ride at the local coffee shop Peaberry's |
How nice the weather turned out tonight, it had threatened rain and storms all day and the prediction for evening was looking mighty grim. The sun came out and shone on us tonight. We had 10 riders and another 4 folks came for the book discussion. Local author Rob Pulcipher who wrote Dirt Road Washtenaw joined us for a ride, discussion and book signing later. What a great time, I met the most interesting people who shared a couple of things in common. The love of riding and writing and reading.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Hitting my stride
Now that there have been enough consistent weeks of riding that are unintruppted by rain, cold or snow and summer is underway I feel strength wise that I am hitting a stride. For week #11 I've complted 44.76 miles with two days of rest from riding and feel very strong and not the least pooped out. My two days off were mid week I finished up a 9.26 mile ride tonight and am up for a 10-15 miler tomorrow. Monday is the day of the Ride and Chat with the author of Dirt Road Washtenaw and that will be a fun ride.
If I'd have addressed this earlier in the week I would not have predicted this outcome. On Monday I was in a full flare up from RA with a shoulder that was out of commission, I ended up taking another Humira injection (2nd one in just over a year). It calmed the flare right down, a bit of rest and I was good as new. During the flare I had imagined that I might be off the bike for a long time. The body is an amazing thing.
I saw my rheumatologist Thursday to help me confirm a plan of action and he decided that my instincts on dropping off Humira were ok, instead, before he recommended going back on for good he threw out the idea of doubling up on the Plaqunil that I take for RA. It has lesser impacts on the body and so far in this last year my single dose (which was 1/2 of where I orginally had been at) was working fine with the exception with 2 flares in a year's time. I liked the idea of doubling the Plaqunil better than getting back on the Humira on a regular and constant plan. So for now that's the plan, if I feel fine that will confirm it's working ok to address the RA. I always have the option to go back onto Humira if this is not working and flares become too common. With meds, I prefer the least amount that will get the job done but do not believe in suffering if there are remedies available.
One remedy that has made a big impact is one I can manage myself and that is a fitness program. I believe beyond any doubt that cycling regularly has improved my overall health immensely. Enough exercise that challenges me without overdoing it has been good for me. It stretches my muscles, strengthens them, lubricates my joints, increases my flexibility, increases the elasticity of my tendons and has given me an enormous cardiovascular advantage. The sunshine and fresh air is good for my body and the thrill, enjoyment and pleasure I get from cycling does wonders for my mood and mental health. Stress leveles are way down.
It continues to confound me that something so simple as a bike ride can accomplish all of that! Incredible and amazing in it's simplicity.
I love riding.
If I'd have addressed this earlier in the week I would not have predicted this outcome. On Monday I was in a full flare up from RA with a shoulder that was out of commission, I ended up taking another Humira injection (2nd one in just over a year). It calmed the flare right down, a bit of rest and I was good as new. During the flare I had imagined that I might be off the bike for a long time. The body is an amazing thing.
I saw my rheumatologist Thursday to help me confirm a plan of action and he decided that my instincts on dropping off Humira were ok, instead, before he recommended going back on for good he threw out the idea of doubling up on the Plaqunil that I take for RA. It has lesser impacts on the body and so far in this last year my single dose (which was 1/2 of where I orginally had been at) was working fine with the exception with 2 flares in a year's time. I liked the idea of doubling the Plaqunil better than getting back on the Humira on a regular and constant plan. So for now that's the plan, if I feel fine that will confirm it's working ok to address the RA. I always have the option to go back onto Humira if this is not working and flares become too common. With meds, I prefer the least amount that will get the job done but do not believe in suffering if there are remedies available.
One remedy that has made a big impact is one I can manage myself and that is a fitness program. I believe beyond any doubt that cycling regularly has improved my overall health immensely. Enough exercise that challenges me without overdoing it has been good for me. It stretches my muscles, strengthens them, lubricates my joints, increases my flexibility, increases the elasticity of my tendons and has given me an enormous cardiovascular advantage. The sunshine and fresh air is good for my body and the thrill, enjoyment and pleasure I get from cycling does wonders for my mood and mental health. Stress leveles are way down.
It continues to confound me that something so simple as a bike ride can accomplish all of that! Incredible and amazing in it's simplicity.
I love riding.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Pure Dirt
Today's ride was pure dirt road riding and this kind of riding is one of the big reasons I bought this bike, I needed a wider range of gearing for rolling hillside rides, wider tires to take the chunky gravel and front suspension to smooth out the ride. Even in some of the washboard sections the suspension and aluminum frame compared to steel, made for a comfortable ride.
What a great ride with a friend of mine today. There were miles and miles of pure dirt roads, acres of farmland, quaint homes and best of all - hardly a car to be seen all day. The weather was perfect for riding, temperature right around 70, no humidity, no wind to speak of, who could ask for better?
Our ride total for the day was 14 miles and most of that was rolling hills, we did a lot of climbing with one very notable hill that just seemed to go on forever on Earhart Road.
We could have rode this ride from home and it would have added about 4-5 miles to it but we would have had to ride through some wickedly high speed traffic on roads with practically no shoulder. So we drove and met at a nearby manufacturing place that was closed for the weekend. What would have been a perfect day ended on a sour note as we got back to our cars my friend had a smashed in window and her handbag was stolen from her car. A bad note to end a great ride on. Lousy theives.
What a great ride with a friend of mine today. There were miles and miles of pure dirt roads, acres of farmland, quaint homes and best of all - hardly a car to be seen all day. The weather was perfect for riding, temperature right around 70, no humidity, no wind to speak of, who could ask for better?
Our ride total for the day was 14 miles and most of that was rolling hills, we did a lot of climbing with one very notable hill that just seemed to go on forever on Earhart Road.
We could have rode this ride from home and it would have added about 4-5 miles to it but we would have had to ride through some wickedly high speed traffic on roads with practically no shoulder. So we drove and met at a nearby manufacturing place that was closed for the weekend. What would have been a perfect day ended on a sour note as we got back to our cars my friend had a smashed in window and her handbag was stolen from her car. A bad note to end a great ride on. Lousy theives.
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