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 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 6

Tractor moving out from home at Hinton-Sadieville and N.E. Countyline roads.

Horse along N.E. Countyline Road. I know nothing about horses but this one is beautiful.

Same horse and another one. What breed is this? I ride one mile down the road and am forced to turn back because the road turns to gravel for one mile. I'm not certain if my road tires will survive one mile of gravel. Must find out from more experienced bikers. Pity. It's a beautiful road.

Zebra at Rogers Gap Road farm. Same place that has the camels. It looks like the donkey (mule?) protects the little zebra.

I complete 30 miles today. I spook a deer and turkey on Elk Lick Road. Remember the sunny 8:30 start? The last seven or eight miles of my return trip are in the rain. Good experience, huh? We must be willing to adapt, huh? We are the superior critters on this planet, huh? Well, why the heck then does the big, fat ol' train park itself at the Rogers Gap crossing stopping all automobile (and bike) traffic for 10 or 15 minutes? By the way, did I mention it was raining?