Tag Archives: Cycling

365 Day Photo Challenge 176/365 “Do it Now!”

24 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pay attention to your health NOW! Don’t wait until you get to be an adult, don’t wait until after you’re out of shape and don’t wait until you’re so big you can’t do anything about it. Do something now, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day, do something to get your heart rate up and burn some calories.

In the last two years, I have had eye surgery, 25 doctor appointments and 6 days off from work mostly due to my diabetes. I have hardly any vacation built up and my sick time is non existent. The diagnosis of my CML hasn’t helped matters none but there’s nothing I could’ve done to prevent this cancer but the diabetes is another story.

I’m not telling you this to gain sympathy or to draw attention to myself. I’m doing this so that you won’t have to go through what I’m going through. I want you to be my friend for a long time.

Trust me when I say that it is MUCH HARDER to lose weight as an adult than it is while you are younger. I’ll be 52 in a couple of months and I honestly think I”ll never get to where I want to be because my metabolism just doesn’t function like it used to. Either that or I still eat more calories than I burn. I do exercise more and I feel that it’s still not enough. I love to ride my bike for hours at a time but it takes too much time away from my family.

My son will graduate college in the first week of December.of this year. I have a goal that I want to get down to and it’s going to be really hard for me to get there. It’s not an unrealistic goal but it’s just going to be a challenge to get there.

Again, pay attention to your health now. No one knows better than you if you need to do something or not. I know I need to work on my weight and I’m trying to do better.

There’s no need respond or reply unless you just feel the need too. If you know someone who is having health issues due to diabetes and you know they’re having difficulties with their dieting, say a word of encouragement. A little encouragement goes a long way.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for being there for me.

365 Day Photo Challenge 175/365 “Hindsight”

23 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I weighed in at 186 pounds on the day I graduated high school back in 1982  Back then I was active, I was in the high school marching band.  I lifted weights, I rode my bicycle everywhere I went and my brother and I cut grass in the neighborhood for extra money.  I remember even then thinking I was overweight.  Little did I know then that I would be really overweight as an adult.

I really didn’t start gaining weight until sometime before I got married. I was living by myself in a mobile home eating out mostly but I did manage to cook on occasion.  I guess sometime after I got married my metabolism slowed down and my weight started creeping upwards rather quickly.  But who was I to impress.  I was already married and had no one to impress.  I thought about my weight on occasion and I would try to diet once in a while but it didn’t last.

If I had known then what I know now (I know, it’s a cliche) I would have tried a little harder and eaten a lot healthier.  We all say that I know.

“life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 173/365 “Happy Fathers Day!”

21 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

BN-ESTK11-NCL-OPEN

I’ve been riding on a regular basis for three years now and I’ve never felt like I’ve had the full support from my family. They’ve always kidded with me about my cycle shorts, the dri fit shirts that I wear and of course my head gear.  Whenever the subject comes up around the house about bike riding or cycling in general I always get a deaf ear and the subject gets dropped or changed.

Around the house if there’s anything to be fixed I’m the one to fix it.  I’ve got tools to do woodworking, auto mechanic, lawn mower repair, plumbing and even heating and air conditioning repair.  But what I don’t have is the proper tools to do bike repair.  It seems that there is a lot of things on a bicycle that takes a special tool.  A tool that I don’t have.  In fact, just the other day I needed a spoke wrench to tighten a spoke that had come loose and I didn’t have the proper wrench to do the job.  I went the next day and purchased a three sided spoke wrench (because I didn’t know which size I needed).  I even mentioned this to my wife who again turned a deaf ear.

Today, to my surprise, I received this tool box for Father’s Day.   I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I opened my gift.  I actually thought that it was a set of pedals that I have been wanting because I saw the box sitting on the front porch when I came in from work on Friday so I knew the box came from a bicycle supply house.

I made sure I gave each of my kids a huge hug and thanked them over and over.  I think they got the message that I was extremely thankful for my surprise.  I[m not sure if I’ve got them won over with me cycling yet but this looks like it’s a start anyway.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 171/365″I Really Need a Break”

19 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Fire-Truck/i-p4nsmNK/A

I am physically and mentally tired tonight.  The last two mornings I’ve been getting up at 3am to be ready to leave the office by 5am.  Getting to my destination hasn’t been a problem as much as the commute back to the office at the end of the day.

I’ve been so tired that even if my feet were not throbbing with the Neuropathy I would have been too tired to ride my bicycle.  I’m going to try to do some much needed yard work tomorrow before it gets to hot to be outside and if my feet feel like it I may try and get some much needed mileage in.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 163/365 “Bad Day Turned Good”

11 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Botanical-Gardens/i-mq8z6WX/A

Today started off with me in the dumps.  Found out an acquaintance of mine who was diagnosed with CML during the same week I was, she found out that her CML has advanced and now is need of a bone marrow transplant.  I’m somewhat confused on how someone with the same cancer can be different.  I know we are not on the same meds and we have different doctors and I also know that she didn’t take her medication like she supposed to and that may have had a huge impact on the direction her cancer has taken.  When I read the news this morning it set me back a bit thinking that this could very well have been me.  It still can be me.  I go back to my oncologist in August and I’m hoping for continued good news.

I was also down because I knew I wouldn’t get to ride any this evening because I was supposed to meet up with a new girl who want to model for me. We’ve tried to meet on so many other occasions and it always fell through.  Why would tonight be any different. I would miss out on the meet up as well as miss out on the riding time.  But, she showed up and I was impressed.  She is everything I was hoping for.  She’s never modeled before but that’s ok.  She doesn’t seem to have any hangups, not on drugs, doesn’t have a jealous husband or boyfriend.  So far so good.  After seeing and talking with her it just made my day.  We’re meeting Tuesday evening to do a small shoot at the Botanical Gardens.  I am really looking forward to it.  Hope to share some pictures after the shoot.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 160/365 “New Ailments”

08 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2015-Cheaha-Challenge/i-cHvKQdH/A

When I was a kid we celebrated my grandmother’s birthday at a restaurant.  I’ll never forget one of her birthday cards that she read aloud to all who were in attendance. It described her five new boyfriends.  “As soon as I get up, WILL POWER helps me get out of bed.  Then I go see JOHN (The Toilet).  Then CHARLIE HORSE comes along, and when he’s here, he takes a lot of time and attention.  When he leaves ARTHUR RITIS shows up and stays the rest of the day.  He doesn’t like to stay in one place for very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day I’m really tired and glad  to go to bed with BEN GAY.  What a life!!.  Oh yes, I’m also flirting with AL ZYMER and thinking of calling JACK DANIELS or JOHNNY WALKER to come and keep me company. Now remember this;  Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it gets to the end the faster it goes…”

It seem that at least once a week a new ailment finds it’s way to the service.  Last week I noticed that my shoulder has a pain when I move it a certain way.  For the past month I’ve noticed that my right foot has been giving me trouble when I ride my bike.  Maybe their related to me riding more often and then again maybe not.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 159/365 “Observations While Cycling”

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2015-Cheaha-Challenge/i-zDGsQZj/A

I absolutely love riding through my community.  I guess the first thing that pops in my mind is the different aromas that I smell as I’m riding from street to street.  The best aroma is the smell of someone cooking out on their grill.  There is always someone cooking but the best days are Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

The smell of freshly cut grass also comes to mind.  During the spring and summer months there is always someone with their lawnmower out.  There is also the sound of weedeaters, trimmers and gas blowers that resonate through the neighborhoods that often accompany the smell of freshly cut grass.

There is also the unpleasant smell of a dead animal carcass.  Our area is consumed with opossums and raccoons, and for some reason always want to see what’s on the other side of the road.  In most cases they don’t seem to make it without getting run over.  In fact, there was something that got ran over a few days ago. Didn’t recognize the form.  It wasn’t an opossum nor was it a raccoon and I don’t believe it to be a dog and it was too big for it to be a cat.  With temperatures reaching into the 90’s this week I’m sure this will cause a horrific odor in days to come.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 158/365 “Close Call”

06 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Botanical-Gardens/i-DQxtSLh/A

I woke up after a very restless night.  I’ve never heard so many loud mufflers in my life. At 1:30 am, a loud motorcycle took off from our parking lot and I heard him hit the interstate and hammer down until he faded off in the distance.  The AC unit worked but the compressor made a loud noise when ever it called for cooling.  The hotel I stayed at allowed pets so as you may have guess it, loud dogs barking all night long. So, when I woke up at 5 am I was not in the mood to ride 41 miles.

After eating breakfast, loading all my gear in my truck, loading the bike on the bike rack I headed off to the church where over 300 bikes were ready to take off.  At 7 am all the century riders took off while the other riders took off at 7:15am.  We started off slow.  Slower than I wanted too.  I was in the back of about 50 cyclist and the average speed was about 11 mph.  The roads were fairly flat and I was ready to move along.

After about five miles or so the riders thinned out enough to where I could start passing some of the slower riders and get up to cruising speed.  There was a older gentleman that wore an army jersey that I was able to keep up with for several miles.  Then the first big hill that’s when I lost the lead riders.  I soon found another couple that I started riding with and we played leapfrog for several miles.  I’d pass them on the down hill and they would pass me on the up hill.  That is until the accident.

At mile 12.9 an oncoming car crossed over the double yellow line as the female cyclist that I had been leapfrogging for the past five miles or so, was starting to pass me on the uphill.  I saw the car approaching and was really paying attention to it more than I was the young cyclist that was passing me.  The car was way over the line, so much so that when I felt the initial hit I thought that the car had hit me.  The young lady cyclist saw the car too.  Whether or not the cyclist panicked or she actually thought she was about to be hit, she swerved into me and her right pedal went into my rear tire causing me to flip off the bike.  This whole time I thought the car had hit me.  I didn’t know that she had anything to do with it until the dust settled.  The only thing I knew I was eating grass with this lady on top of me.

After the accident, we both layed motionless for a few minutes.  Each of us scared to move thinking of all the broken bones we would find.  She made the first move by slowly making her way off of me just as her husband came running up to check on her.  He was about thirty feet behind and saw everything.  I was still laying on the ground when the husband offered his hand to help me up.  It wasn’t until then I started putting things together.  I still wasn’t for sure if anyone got hit by the car, which by the way never stopped.

I got up and asked if she was okay and she looked rough.  Her right arm was bleeding and she had some road rash on one of her legs.  I looked over to where our bikes were and knew right away that there would be damage.  It didn’t look good.  Both of our bikes were white while mine has red bar tape, hers had white.  I saw a section that contained the handlebar that had white bar tape but it was too small for it to be the complete bike.  Some how her bike broke into two pieces.  I was scared to look at mine after seeing hers but mine only suffered two broken spokes on the back wheel.  Needless to say we were out of the ride.  I waved down the support vehicle, loaded up both bikes and headed back to the start line.

On the way back to the start line the young lady stated that her arm was hurting some and I think their plan was to go to the emergency room.  I have not heard any news so I’m hoping everything turned out okay.  I loaded my bike, drove 3.5 hours home, stopping at the cycle shop to drop my bike off and took a hot shower once home.

In a nut shell, this has been a non productive weekend thus far.  I drove four hours, 225 miles, paid $88 for a nights’ stay only to ride 12.5 miles.  But, It could’ve ended up a whole lot worse.

365 Day Photo Challenge 157/365 “Being Forgetful. Old Age or Not Paying Attention”

05 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Botanical-Gardens/i-qgRTB39/A

What a day.  Last night I stayed up later than I wanted to so that I could make sure I had everything.  I packed all my cycle gear in one bag and I packed all my other stuff in another bag.  I made sure I had my meds, my cpap and my safety gear for while I’m riding.

I left work at the time I wanted too.  I knew I had to go the bank to deposit a check and I had realized I didn’t pack a cooler nor did I pack any water and I needed some snacks so that I wouldn’t wake up at 2am with a sugar crash but I needed to go to the bank first to have the cash to spend at the store.  What did I do?  I went to the store first.  I didn’t have the money to purchase everything I needed so I decided to go on to the bank and then stop closer to my destination before I stopped again.

About two hours in to my trip my mind starts wondering if I packed this or that.  I pulled over and did a physical check and realized that I didn’t pack any jeans.  I hate forgetting things so I decided to go ahead and plan on stopping at the next Wal-Mart that I come up to.  I bought a pair of jeans, some snacks, bottled water, a bag of ice and a cooler.  This is becoming more expensive than I want it too.

Twenty minutes from my destination I stopped at Wendy’s to get myself some supper.  I pulled into the drive through, ordered my meal and handed the lady at the window my debit card.  Another lady delivers my food and I drive off, without my debit card.  I got maybe 100 yards and realized what I had done and I turned around to retrieve my card.

Finally arrived at the hotel and got checked in.  I was ready to wind down.  I got everything unloaded and I went ahead and took the time to get everything ready for in the morning.  Once the ride is over there will be showers for everyone to get refreshed for the ride home so I’m going through everything and realize that I didn’t pack any underwear.  Really??  I had to go back out and go find another Wal-Mart.

I pull into the store, find what I need and head to the check out.  This place has 40 registers and only six working.  Everyone was complaining but that didn’t help.  Made it through the check out and out the door I went.  Guess what?  I couldn’t find my truck.  Seriously, I’m not making this up.  I’m pressing the panic button on the remote and listening but I’m not hearing anything.  Walking and pressing and hearing nothing for at least ten minutes and I’m beginning to think that maybe someone has stolen my truck.  I did eventually find my truck and made it back to the hotel.  The whole time driving back to the hotel I’m thinking why am I being so forgetful?  Am I just not paying attention? Or is my age finally catching up with me.  I’m really hoping that I’m done with today and I can turn this computer off and get some sleep and start tomorrow afresh and have everything I need.

Until Tomorrow

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 156/365 “All Packed”

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Prints-For-Sale/Botanical-Gardens/i-fBcKDxP/A

Well almost.  I’ve still got a few things to load up including my bicycle.  Tomorrow I’ll be leaving work early and I’ll be traveling about three hours due south to Dothan to ride in a bicycle charity ride on Saturday.  They have several options including a 30 mile, 41 mile, a 69 and a 102 mile ride.  I’ve chosen to do the 41 mile loop.

Since Sunday of this week I have ridden everyday with the exception of Tuesday when I had to work.  Each day I have pushed myself to do at least 25 miles.  The roads around my house are not flat by no means but there not extremely hilly either.  When I get done my legs feel like they’ve had a good workout.

Tomorrow is my travel day and it’s going to be a rest day as well.  I will have a hotel room all to myself with no kids and no wife.  I already have my evening planned.  Nothing special just finishing up some emails, watching some television and going to bed at 10pm so I will be rested by 7am start time. I am really looking forward to some alone time.

“Life Goes On!”