Sunday

Here are my two sweet pets, Annie and Journey... thought you guys would like this.

I'm relaxing after a 70-mile bike ride... stats: 70.86 miles, moving time 4:46, total time 4:50 (read: almost NO stopping!!), average 14.8mph. My average speed has increased by about 1.5mph over the summer. I'm looking forward to some faster times on flat roads at ChesapeakeMan and IMFL. I did a favorite 20-mile loop twice and then my favorite 30-mile out-and-back. My lower back and my lateral quads hurt towards the end. After a plate of food and 3 aspirins, I'm feeling a lot better. It was a good ride. A really good ride. But I was glad not to have another 42 miles followed by a marathon.... thought lot about what Commodore said about quitting. I think that essay is going to keep me going a lot in the next 10 weeks. Even though I'm nowhere near quitting anymore, I still think about it, think about taking the shortcut home, wonder just like last year whether I'm up to this venture. Just because I did it last year doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to make it this year. But I will not quit. Not me.

Today's ride finally took me out of Colorado into Kansas, in my fantasy "Tour d'Amerique." Click on the link in my sidebar to see my map so far! Judging by how straight the road has become, it's flatland, which is no doubt a distinct relief -- maybe I can start making better time now :-)

I'm watching "Hondo" on TCM. I've been waiting probably 2 years for it to air sometime. John Wayne is the star. It was made in 1953 and, unlike a lot of movies of that era, has real scenery, not painted backdrops and fake shrubbery. I'm recording it. TCM does not have commercials, which makes it even better."Hondo" was Western author Louis L'Amour's first full-length novel. I LOVE Louis L'Amour. Stories of journeys, adventure, suspense, survival, courage, and honor, people pulling together and making it on their own, living on coffee, beans, bacon and wild game. Hokey as hell -- the good guys always win, the bad guys always get what's coming to them, the women are either virtuous and strong, or ladies of the evening, Indians are mostly savage heathens -- but I love 'em.