Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 49

These are more pics of the Bond Pike goats and tractor from my Aug. 19 ride.

And some flowers at Bond Pike and US 227.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 48

Quilts along Minors Branch Road seen on my Aug. 29, 50 miler.

I travel for the first time down Gaines Road connecting Indian Creek Road with Long Lick Pike. It's only three miles long but it's a pretty three miles. Rural Scott County is beautiful. Meet a guy at the intersection of Gaines and Long Lick across from Long Lick Baptist Church. He says he and his buddy run along Gaines. Och! That's got to be hard on the knees. I'll stick with biking.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 47

This is the church in Minorsville on US 227. I ride 50 miles this early morn--my first 50 miler! (And my first time out since I got my bike back from the shop. It was a stinkin' tiny piece of glass in the front tire that was puncturing the inner tubes.) The ride isn't bad. My body is in decent shape. It's mental toughness more than anything else. Mental fatigue starts to creep in after 35 miles (I talk to myself a lot).

This is the church altar. I meet Gary H. at the church front steps. He is a parishioner working on the sound system. Gary owns Patriot Autos in Georgetown. I tell him I work at the library. He says he graduated with my boss Earlene sometime during the 20th century. He lets me fill my water bottle. We speak about Alaska, Florida, bike riding, hunting, wild pigs, pastors, cancer and death. Gary mentions that pastor Tom K. is dying of esophagus cancer yet keeps preaching and has wonderful support from the parishioners. I suggest Pastor Tom is an inspiring example to the parishioners on how to die with dignity and moral strength. It reminds me of Pope John Paul's wonderful example.

Stain glass window above church front door.

I see a good amount of road kill during my bike rides. I find this fawn on Long Lick Pike just west of Locust Fork Road. It's a recent kill because the body is still warm and there is no bloating. I move the body to the side of the road. Sad.

My vital stats from my bike computer: Speed (13.2 mph avg., 39.5 mph max.); Heart (126 bpm avg., 165 bpm max.); Cadence (80 revolutions per minute avg., 199 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 1368 calories. Actual pedal time is 3 hours, 47 minutes.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 46

More pics from my Aug. 19 ride. The first three pics are of pretty Long Lick Baptist Church on Long Lick Pike near Locust Fork Road.

A parishioner tells me that the new steeple will be installed when the weather is right and the men are ready.

This is the graveyard at Long Lick Baptist Church.

Pretty horse and quilt at a barn on Bond Pike. This is a distant shot.

Good news. The bike shop phones this evening to say my bike is ready. Yee haw! (I'm buying plenty of spare inner tubes).

Bad news. Looks like my pepper spray and I will be "training" another Rottweiler. This new brute lives on Long Lick Pike. Wish me well. (I wonder if this might become a part-time business; training dogs to stop chasing bikers.)

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 45

This is my wife in my red truck coming to my rescue on Bond Pike, Aug 19. Turn up the sound to hear the rolling truck tires and the tweeting birds!

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 44

Stranded again! Yesterday's early morn 13.7 mile ride before work turns into a lazy morn because I have another flat tire and again no spare tube. I phone my wife and she picks me up and shows me Gaines Road which is beautiful country road that I will explore when I get my bike back from the bike shop. My guess is that there is some pointy thing in the front tire, undetectable by me, puncturing the tubes. I am now a bike guy without a bike. These first two pics are at the intersection of Bond Pike and US 227 northwest of Stamping Ground. This is where my wife rescues me. The pic below shows my bike on Bond Pike facing US 227. Stamping Ground is to the left.

I have divine help today notwithstanding the fact that I am dead in the water...and these goats and old tractor today are the instruments of God's saving help. I like to say my morning prayers while biking these beautiful, peaceful country roads. I just finish my Guardian Angel prayer "Angel of God my guardian dear..." when I notice these goats and old tractor. I stop and take some pics and then notice that my front tire is flat. Flat tires are annoying but my goat-inspired photo op probably saves me from serious injury. Look at the pic below to understand why (left click pic).

This is a long, steep Bond Pike descent that empties into US 227. Last time I rode down this hill I did about 40 mph. It is just after the goats and old tractor.

Some people equate goats with the Devil. Not me.

My vital stats from the bike computer: Speed (13.6 mph avg., 37.7 mph max.); Heart (119 bpm avg., 146 bpm max.); Cadence (82 revolutions per minute avg., 111 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 329 calories. Actual pedal time is 1 hour.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 43

This is the house on Rogers Gap Road. I ride almost 32 miles this morn before work. I bike Long Lick Pike from Skinnersburg Road to Locust Fork Road which is a portion of Long Lick Pike I've never before biked. Really pretty scenery. Pretty Long Lick Baptist Church with graveyard. I believe I bike past JoAnn's home. Take Locust Fork to Bond Pike to US 227 to Stamping Ground then back. Spook a bunch of turkeys on Bond Pike. There is a GREAT, LONG descent on Bond Pike that empties into US 227. It's really great to ride early in the morn--cool temps, quiet, no traffic, great light for taking pics. Unfortunately, I don't have my camera with me this morn. These pics are from yesterday's ride, Aug. 15.

Another pic from Elk Lick Road.

This is the long hill climb up to the lonely cemetery on Hinton Sadieville Road. You can just barely make out the cemetery. Not a good shot, I know, but it gives you an idea of the long, lonely climb.

More flowers along Hinton Sadieville Road.

My vital stats from my bike computer for today's ride: Speed (13.9 mph avg., 37.0 mph max.); Heart (118 bpm avg., 144 bpm max.); Cadence (80 revolutions per minute avg., 128 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 731 calories. Actual pedal time is 2 hours, 17 minutes.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 42

Cemetery on Hinton Sadieville Road not far from Stone Road. I see this shot as I'm climbing a long hill. The loneliness of the cemetery really strikes me and it is this feeling I try to capture. I was tempted to crop out the stump in the top right corner but leave it in because it adds to the feeling of loneliness. I'm not all that happy with this pic. Suggestions anyone?


Flowers along Hinton Sadieville Road

House along Rogers Gap Road not far from the railroad crossing. I like the shadows. I wonder who lived here? Why did they leave? What kind of stories were told on that porch during lazy, warm, cricket-singing summer evenings?

Close up of house.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 41

Stone wall along Elk Lick Road near Sadieville. I am 15.8 miles into my intended 50 miler when my front tire develops a leak. I don't have a spare tube nor other needed equipment. My cell phone doesn't work out here so I knock on Bobby and Linda's front door and ask to use their phone to call my wife. Linda answers the door and says "You work at the library." I hear this a lot out in the country. I meet her husband, Bobby, who has been on his tractor removing rocks from a field. He introduces me to his other ladies--Susie Q and Clementine; two Blue Heeler bitches from the same litter. Sweet gentle dogs. I tell Bobby and Linda about my dogs, Jack and Molly, and how they are trained for Scott County Public Library's Sit-Stay-Read program. I phone my wife and she picks me up and takes me back to my truck on Rogers Gap.
I like this pic except for the early morn glare down the road. Can't remove it with my polarizing filter nor with photo editing. Suggestions anyone?

Vital stats from my bike computer: Speed (13.7 mph avg., 40.7 max.); Heart (128 bpm avg., 215 bpm max.); Cadence (77 revolutions per minute avg., 145 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 419 calories. Actual pedal time is 1 hour, 9 minutes. Man, can you believe my max. heart rate--215 bpm! I'm surprised this old geezer didn't have a heart attack. I'm a tough old bird, ain't I?

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 40

Looking down Skinnersburg Road at Corinth Christian Church. I bike about 22 miles today, Aug. 12, before work. Get a late 9:30 AM start at Biddle Pike and eventually end up in Stamping Ground to visit Jackie and Sue (the Salt-Rising Bread people). Sort of warm but the heat doesn't bother me. Feel good going up steep hills. My strength, endurance and cardio have improved. I CAN FEEL IT!!!!!

Interesting shadows at Corinth Christian Church.

Quilt along Seebree Road heading into Stamping Ground. I bike some new roads today in addition to Seebree--Graves and Stonetown. I don't have time to take pics of the other quilts along Seebree. Next time.

Closeup of same quilt.

Some good news. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks--especially if you use pepper spray. Remember the Rottweiler on Biddle Pike that I blasted with pepper spray? I ride by his home today. Guess what? He is there on his front lawn near the road. Guess what happens? Nothing. He watches me pedal down the road. I just hope he has a good memory--biker=pain.

Vital stats from my bike computer: Speed (13.7 mph avg., 34.5 mph max); Heart (125 bpm avg., 153 bpm max.); Cadence (84 revolutions per minute avg., 199 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 568 calories. Actual pedal time is 1 hour, 36 minutes.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 39

I bike 19 miles after work today. My vital stats from my bike computer: Speed (14.4 mph avg., 33.3 max.); Heart (119 bpm avg., 141 max.); Cadence (81 revolutions per minute avg., 116 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 439 calories. Actual pedal time 1 hour, 21 minutes. I see more quilts along Burton Pike.

These are some of Saturday's Mallard Point Lame Duck Triathlon participants. They ride in front of our house.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 38

Another pic of the dynamic damaged duo. BTW that's Nicholas' bike I'm using as a prop.

You might recall a previous post about my near electrocution at a Sulphur Wells driveway strung with barely visible coiled electric wire. I revisit the scene during my August 6 ride. The driveway veers to the left with the coiled wire strung between the two big trees. Can ya see it? Neither could I.

Here's a closeup of the tree to the right.

The quilt is along Burton Pike. I like how my polarizing filter captures the sky's blue and brings out the contrast with the green grass--vivid.

Same quilt but from an artsty-craftsy angle. My spandexed butt gets wet with this shot. Oh, the sacrifices we artists make for the sake of the craft.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 37

Nicholas has his skin graft surgery this morn. I'm pointing it out to him. He's not very observant. I also remind him, once again, that he needs to start shaving his arms and legs. Maybe now he'll finally listen to his old man.
Doc says Nicholas will be healed in two weeks.

Not every librarian can look this good. I work really hard to keep my legs pasty white. It's not easy with all this infernal sun shining down. I go through a lot of sun block.

Would you check out a book from THIS guy?

Go Blue! Muscles & Michigan. I ride 33 miles after work down Biddle Pike to Skinnersburg to Glass Pike to Long Lick Pike to Sulphur Wells Road back to Biddle Pike. My vital stats from the Cateye bike computer: Speed (13.3 mph avg., 33.3 max.); Heart (130 bpm. avg., 153 max.); Cadence (80 revolutions per minute avg., 109 revolutions per minute max.). I burn 932 calories. Actual pedal time is 2 hours and 29 minutes.