The Arctic Blast that put the entire nation in the deep freeze this week also put a damper on getting out on Double Cross for any two wheeled adventure, but it’s above freezing this morning, Woo-hoo. We escaped the Frozen Tundra about a month ago and headed south, expecting some mild sub tropical temperatures and we actually got a couple mild days out of the last thirty but it rained on about half of them. I researched several local gravel road possibilities on Google Maps before we left, with visions of mid-winter gravel fun dancing in my head but alas it’s rainy season on the Coastal Plains and that means mud.
At least I got to go fishing with the grandkids a couple times, when we first arrived but it was difficult fishing with a lot of wind and it’s hard to keep kids focused for very long when the fish are so few and far between. They did both catch some, so they’ll be ready and rearing to go when the weather improves. One of them even loaded a solunar fishing app on his communication device, so he would tell me the best times to go fishing each day. I gave him my theory that the barometric pressure was a much better indicator than moon phases and he asked if there was an app for that. He’s obviously hooked ;>)
“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Sadly, I’ve gotten only a single, solitary bike ride in, in over two months – It’s just not fair. The other problem here is dirt or lack of dirt actually. I know there’s plenty of dirt in Texas because I have experienced it first hand but there isn’t any around here, just miles and miles of pavement. I reckon the nearest real dirt road is at least 20 minutes away by car. But I’ve done my share of big city cycling, and before undergoing her present transformation to Gravel Bike, Double Cross was my commuter bike, so she has plenty of experience on the pavement too.
She has a little safe space in back of the Jeep where she lives when we’re on the road and that’s where she’s spent most of her time on this trip. We did get out for a loop a couple weeks ago but I’m not even sure how far we went as I left all the logging equipment at the bus. I had a plan this morning though; the Jeep’s due for a 100k mile service, so I planned a route back to the bus from the Jeep dealer. The forecast suggested that it was going to be close to 70 degrees. Perfect for a bike ride I reckoned, even if it was all big city pavement.
This morning however it was in the 40’s with dense fog. Cold wetness was dripping off of everything as I aired up Double Cross’s tires in back of the Jeep. When I dropped the Jeep off, the service rep. asked if I needed a ride home and I was definitely tempted, but the fog was beginning to lift and I really wanted to ride, so I donned a stocking cap, gloves and wind/rain gear and headed off. Onward through the fog. I was able to cross I-45 and navigate some fairly tricky highway intersections with no problem, thank you Galveston County for recognizing that bicyclists and pedestrians are people too.
“To find truth, one must travel a dense fog!” ~ David Dweck
Xam was waiting for me in the Bark-o-lounger when I got back to the bus and I could read his mind.”Where the heck have you been buster, it’s time for the morning walk.” As Vickie and I looped the dogs around the lake, the sun kept trying to poke through the thick layer of fog. I have high hopes that the sun will be out and shining for the 70 degree return trip, this afternoon. Hopefully I can even wear shorts.
This may just be the last decent opportunity for awhile, as the forecast shows more wind and cold followed by monsoon rains for the week ahead. I reckon the big lesson on this little journey is that you can have all the visions, dreams and expectations you want for your journey but it’s not going to change the way life actually unfolds. The answer I suppose is to stay rooted in the present, and don’t forget your rain gear!