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 35

The Ivy House From Hell along US 227 in Minorsville. A fellow photographer asks me if I went inside. I tell her I did not go inside because I don't want to go to hell. This pic and the ones that follow are from my July 30 ride.

A huge downed tree along Josephine Road.

Some interesting colors and textures. Notice the glaring sky. My polarizing lens does not take it out. The same fellow photographer suggests using a graduated filter. It's on my shopping list

Nicholas saw the plastic surgeon today. He is going to have a skin graft sometime next week. Bad news is that Nicholas won't be able to ride his bike for at least five weeks. He stills intends to do the Ride To Victory in September. He's a real trooper.

Ride To Conquer Cancer, Training Progress, Part 34

I ride 40 miles today and fall only once! Not bad, huh? I take Biddle Pike to Salem to Porter to Josephine to Frazier to Caney Creek to Sutcliff to Minors Branch to US 227 into Minorsville and back. I take these macro flower pics next to the Ivy House From Hell in Minorsville. I have some difficulty focusing these marco shots because a slight breeze causes the flowers to sway. Even so, I'm happy with the results. Left click for more detail.


The focus on this "bug" plant is behind the nettles. Notice the finer detail of the leaf veins. The wind was tricky on this one.
My "twinkle toes" shot along Minors Branch Road. The vital stats from my Cateye bike computer: Speed (12.9 mph avg., 36.9 mph max); Heart Rate (130 bpm avg., 157 bpm max.); and Cadence (75 pedal revolutions per minute avg., 145 pedal revolutions max.). I burn 1189 calories. Actual pedaling time is 3 hours, 9 minutes. This is my longest ride so far. I know I could have gone further. Need to start earlier in the day.