Monthly Archives: May 2015

365 Day Photo Challenge 140/365 “Here Today Gone Tomorrow”

22 Friday May 2015

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My cycling route takes me through mostly subdivisions just so that I will stay off the busy streets in our city.  My route does take me on two of the most busiest streets that we have but I’m only on there for maybe a mile or two.  Just enough to get some motorists mad for having to wait until I get up the hill.

As I’ve stated before, our city was hit by a massive EF4 tornado back in 2011.  Only one quarter of our city’s homes were rebuilt.  Most packed up what ever was left and walked away and never looked back. There are some houses that still remain that were severely damaged that for whatever the reason were never torn down nor rebuilt, just boarded up and left to rot.  The above picture was just one of those houses.  I past there yesterday evening and noticed that this house was all boarded up and no one had lived there for a least a couple of years.  Today, well, you can tell what happen to it. I don’t want to lay blame here but I have a feeling that this was a case of arson.  With no power to the house an electrical fire would seem to be out of the question.  We had no storms last night so we can rule out a lightning strike.  We’ve had a few cases where the homeowners had issues with their insurance companies and a accidental fire would be the only way out.

Have a good weekend everyone!!

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 139/365 “A Tribute to Ashlyne”

21 Thursday May 2015

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I received this in my in box while I was at work.  This tore me up.

It is with great sadness that we are contacting you today…

Ashlyne, our ambassador and superhero, has lost her battle with cancer.

She passed away late on Tuesday evening at home in California. She was surrounded by loving family and close friends.

As you may know, she recently flew back to California to spend her last days at home, after her cancer had progressed so far that it could not be cured.

She made it home safely and she spent her last days catching up with old classmates and was even able to go to a movie with her friends.

One big highlight last week was that she got to pick out an early birthday present, a pet Chameleon named Lemon. Ashlyne’s mom told us she shed ‘happy tears’ on the ride home when Lemon wrapped his whole body around her finger like a huge hug. 🙂

That’s Ashlyne — she always saw the joy in things.

We’ll remember Ashlyne for her love of penguins and the color pink, her sound advice to “not eat the hospital food,” her skill in removing hospital bracelets and her bright pink cape with the letter “A” on it…

Because as Ashlyne said, “my favorite superhero is me.”

Ashlyne was a remarkable young lady and it was a privilege to know her, she will be in our thoughts and hearts as we ride next month to honor her memory and fight this terrible disease.

This is why we ride…to fight for kids like Ashlyne and fight kids’ cancer!

Every hill we climb, every mile we pedal, it’s to give these kids the chance for a better future.

As June draws near, we want to introduce you to some of the children you’ll be riding for next month. THANK YOU for your support to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/TimHughes

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 138/365 “Ride of Silence”

20 Wednesday May 2015

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I had the opportunity to ride in the Ride of Silence ride tonight.  This was the third year that I’ve ridden in this ride and to me it’s quite an honor.  We ride in silence in remembrance of those that have been seriously injured or have been killed while riding within the past year.  The ride is less than ten miles and is a fairly easy ride.  Tonight was estimated in having over 100 cyclist riding in the ride.

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Don’t for get to donate if you can to help me raise $1000 by the end of June.  Follow the link to donate.  Thank you.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/TimHughes

365 Day Photo Challenge 137/365 “Please Help Find a Cure for Kids’ Cancer”

19 Tuesday May 2015

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I’ve signed up to ride in the 2015 Great Cycle Challenge this June. My goals are to ride 500 miles in the month of June to help raise money to fight Kids Cancer. I also have a goal to raise $1000.00 between now and the end of June. Both goals will be a challenge but I honestly think that they are achievable. If you would like to donate please follow the link.

I am fortunate to have kids who were born healthy and cancer free. I can’t imagine what a parent goes through hearing the words that their son or daughter has cancer. Great advances have been made in the medical field to help those with cancer, I know, I’m one of those patients. However, there are some types of cancer that they are still still learning about. I’m hoping and praying that with these funds a cure will be found.

365 Day Photo Challenge 136/365 “Good Friends”

18 Monday May 2015

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Meet Tom Johnson, he’s the one waving at me.  He’s an avid cyclist who has put many miles on his bike.  Last year he went to Puerto Rico: 339 miles in 23:10 over 3 days.  I can only hope to do what he’s doing.  He did 65 miles during the ride this Sunday.  My next big ride will be the Tri States ride in Dothan, Alabama.  I’ll be riding the 41 mile loop.  This ride will be in June so it might be a little warm.

Thanks for following me

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 135/365 “Cheaha Challenge”

17 Sunday May 2015

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I had the opportunity to work the Cheaha Challenge today.  It started off wet but as the afternoon approached the rain soon went away.  But with the roads being wet and a new layer of asphalt it made for a very dangerous morning.  1000 bikes were anticipated but only about 700 showed up due to the rain.  Only one accident was reported and they young lady took a spill and dislocated her shoulder and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital.  No word on her condition.

We were fortunate to have with us at our rest stop a young journalist from The Anniston Star, a small but widely known newspaper/newsite. Five interns tweeted their coverage for most of the day.  My partner and I were interviewed about our part of the ride and had our picture taken for the article that is to be written for later on this week.

It was a long day being that I had to get up at 4am this morning to be at my station by 7am.  I have one more week to work then I have a three day weekend coming up.  I’m so ready for an extra day off from work.

BTW, the Cheaha Challenge was broken down into several rides including a 24, 44. 64, 103 and a 129 mile ride and is thought to be the toughest organized ride in the state of Alabama.  For all you cyclist that follow me, you should seriously consider coming down here and riding it.  We has someone come as far away as Miami Florida to ride this ride today.  Are you up for the challenge.  I’m not.

365 Day Photo Challenge 134/365 “Todays Ride”

16 Saturday May 2015

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Today was a good day.  I got most everything done that I wanted to do today.  I got up and ate breakfast, changed clothes and hopped on my bicycle.  When I returned home I had a bite to eat and started getting things ready for tomorrow trip to Mt. Cheaha.

My bike ride today consisted of a leisurely ride through town.  I followed my weekend route in which I normally get around 23 miles.  The route I take has a lot of hills but not any steep grades.  I took a few new roads just to see some new sites and it increased my mileage a bit. My total mileage for the day was 25.8 and my average speed was 12.1 mph.  Like I said, I took my time and didn’t get in a big hurry.

There are several things that kind of bug me while I’m riding through my fair city but the one thing that really pisses me off is the amount of trash that is on the roads.  I bet I counted four trash bags while on my route today.  I think it’s really uncalled for when people throw out their trash from their cars instead of waiting until they get home and throw it out in a trash can. Doesn’t make sense.  The other thing that gets on my nerves is the amount of dogs that are not on a leash or in a fenced in yard.  Our city has a leash law which requires all dogs to either be on a leash or in a fence if outside.  The little ankle biters don’t really bother me that much, it’s the big labs and german shepherds that make me nervous.  I’ve been given permission by the city to use Mace when I feel threatened.  The thing about using mace it that it could get in my eyes if the wind is blowing the wrong direction.

Photo is of the Pier in Chicago

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 133/365 “Happy Weekend Everyone!!”

15 Friday May 2015

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I was just notified moments ago that I was nominated for the WordPress Family Award by Deborah Crocker  http://www.talkingtomyweightlosscounselor.wordpress  I am beyond speechless.  Thanks again for the nomination Deborah.

Tomorrows plan is to get up and take a ride on the bicycle, put a battery on charge, empty all the nonessential crap out of the back of my truck and load items needed for the bicycle event on Sunday.  I might even try to do some much needed yard work if I can squeeze it in.

My wife and I had a discussion the other day in which I felt a little put out.  I volunteer for several organizations and if I’ll let them they’ll work me every weekend.  I volunteer for several Amateur Radio organizations, Boy Scouts of America and a couple of local churches. I would like to think that I would be remembered as someone who volunteered his time and like to help out in the community.  But, according to my wife I’m looking for things to do other than spending time at home.  Really??  I’m not really sure I convinced her otherwise. My volunteer work with the scouts has slowed down somewhat being that I’m no longer scoutmaster but I have taken on other responsibilities on a higher level in the district which does require me to attend several meetings a month but it’s nothing like every Monday night and camping trips every month.  I guess that’s part of being married.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 132/365 “Continuation”

14 Thursday May 2015

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http://www.wired.com/2015/05/ranked-bike-friendly-states-us/2015_BFS_Overall

Another story about just how the states ranked in bike friendliness.  Again saying that Alabama is dead last while Washington is ranked number one.  In my community it isn’t that bad I guess.  It’s true that I have to deal with a few nuts on the road but overall it’s not as bad as I’ve heard other people.

If you have a minute read the article.  It’s got some useful information as to how they determined the rankings.  I just wished my state would do some of the things that other states are doing to promote cycling.

This coming Sunday, there will be a cycling event at Mt. Cheaha called the Cheaha Challenge.  It’s several bike rides rolled into one with the longest about 150 miles.  I think the shortest is about 25 miles on the Chief LaDiga bike trail.  The last I heard there’s going to be over 1000 cyclists on the road.  You know there’s going to be some pissed off people trying to get through on their Sunday drives.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 131/365 “Cycling Awareness”

13 Wednesday May 2015

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Cycling on the roadways has become such a huge debate around here.  Tempers are easily raised when the subject comes up.  In fact, Alabama is ranked #50 as the worst bike friendly state in America.  I have gotten into several online debates within the last few days and some of these people are just hard headed as they can be.

I’ve known since I’ve started riding that the general public does not like to share the roads with us cyclists.  I’ve been honked at, yelled at, given the bird and nearly ran off the road.  The main argument that I’m hearing is that the cyclist do not belong on the road when in fact Alabama state law states that cyclists have the same rights as motorists while on the road way.  Go to the gym, ride on the sidewalks and use the bike lanes is just some of the other arguments that I’ve been given.

It is my belief that cyclists and motorists should learn to work together and share the roads. It’s a two way street guys.  I’ve seen cyclist ride two and three deep and refusing to allow cars to pass.  I’ve seen cyclist bust through red lights and stop signs when they are supposed to stop.  I can see why some motorists treat us the way they do.

“Life Goes On!”