Today’s episode in bike touring found Felkerino and I sidling along the Salmon River for most of the 82 miles we covered. Our route was via highway Idaho 93, but it was quiet except for the perpetual singing of the Salmon River. Now that’s the kind of highway noise I could get used to. Continue reading “Day 3. Challis to North Fork, Idaho: Salmon River Serenade”
This note is specifically for the Coffeeneuring Class of 2014. All patches were mailed on December 30, both to those living in the U.S. as well as the International Cadre of Coffeeneurs. What I’m saying is everyone should have received the patches they ordered/earned (unless you are a D.C.-based person, in which case I should have already spoken with you to figure something out). If … Continue reading Coffeeneuring Housekeeping: Patches
“Las cosas se arreglan. La gente no.” Things can be fixed. People can’t. Someone I used to work with told me that, after I had been in a fender bender.
That phrase keeps running through my mind as I reflect on our day from Gunnison to Leadville, 105 miles via the big meandering Cottonwood Pass and another intersection with the Continental Divide at 12,000-plus feet. Continue reading “CO Tour Day 9: Las Cosas Se Arreglan: Cottonwood Pass and a Broken Crankarm”
Felkerino said that today is when the mountains embraced us. I said it was a day of bike tour magic.
Part of the reason for that, of course, was the beautiful climbing on the Million Dollar Highway for the first 38 miles. We ascended from Ouray at 7,800 feet to over 10,000 feet and crossed three passes in the first half of our ride: Red Mountain; Molas; and Coal Bank.
The other reason we felt so inspired by our day was the people we had the chance to meet. We were held up at the top of Red Mountain Pass because of road work (blasting!) and chatted with several people touring the area (in their cars, but I guess it’s okay this time). Continue reading “CO Tour Day 5: Bike Tour Magic: 83 Miles from Ouray to Durango”
I overhear our friend talking to Felkerino about his upcoming bike trip, a multi-day self-guided tour in Europe.
“Mancation,” he tells Felkerino. I turn my head at that.
“Just me and my bike,” he adds.
Surprised, I say, “Wait, you’re going by yourself?”
“Good job, Mary. You got it on the first try.” Continue reading “Mancation, All I Ever Wanted”
Recently, a friend recommended Willa Cather’s My Ántonia so I have been reading it. I’ve always avoided this book because it sounded too much like required high school reading. Now I understand why that is so, although I don’t know that I would have appreciated all this book had to offer had I read it earlier in life.
This past weekend I stopped during our bike ride to tell Santa all that I wanted for Christmas. But then I realized that I had everything I needed. Good health, the love of friends and family, and of course, bicycles. So instead I told Santa that I wished for everyone I know to have a great holiday season, full of love and cheer. Santa said he’d … Continue reading A Holiday Wish
Jump photos. If you haven’t done one, you should try it. You have to intuit the right moment for a jump, as it’s unlikely to turn out if forced. Sometimes a jump photo was just what we needed during our Sedona hikes this week (longer wrap-up post about that on deck) because it took us away from a tough moment on the trail and reminded … Continue reading Carefree in Sedona: Jump Photos
Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend and happier weeks ahead. Continue reading Peace
Happy holidays! If you have any breaks from the hustle and bustle this week, I recommend a read of this lovely book, The Velocipede: its History, Varieties and Practice , by J.T. Goddard. Written in 1869, The Velocipede offers an informative look back at the bicycles and bike culture of the time. It even includes a chapter of comprehensive instructions for the beginning rider, and … Continue reading Happy Holidays (and a Book Recommendation)!
There he is. See? Just down the road. There. Yes. Yes! I see . Pedal hard. We will catch him. Let’s do it! Pedal pedal pedal. I think we’re gaining. We can do this! Pedal faster! Almost. There. Wait. It’s not what we thought. No? No. It was fun giving chase. Got my heart rate up. Even if he did turn out to be a … Continue reading chasing mailboxes
