The thing that I have noticed about my bike-riding this spring is that it has been taking me considerably longer to get back into pedaling shape than ever before. I have been going anywhere from a scant six to ten miles a day, but the day before yesterday I went 15 and then yesterday I was dragging all day.
I'm still dragging.
Of course, about half of that was against the wind - and uphill, too!
Still, I have to think it might be because I am finally hitting a point in life where I can truly feel the difference in age one year to the next. Then, too, the past winter was a draining one for me - so maybe it is the two combined: age and drain.
Yet, I think I am starting to get stronger; despite the fact that I am dragging, my endurance is on the increase.
And guess what?
When I park my bike after today's ride, I won't be biking anymore for awhile.
All the conditioning that I have been doing will go away.
I am about to go traveling again, that's why.
At this time tomorrow, I should be sitting in an airplane, flying over northwest Alaska, approaching my destination. I will be gone for anywhere from a week to 12 days and if it is 12, then I will return home just long enough to unpack my bags, wash my clothes and get on a jet going south.
But back to yesterday's bike ride:
I had barely begun when I came upon Tony, the hunter and author, and Taiga, the hunting dog, who knows how to retrieve a duck but can't write a single sentence.
I pedaled about ten miles. As I neared home, this dog suddenly appeared in front of me and like a bullet shot straight to my leg.
I know this dog. It acts tougher than it is. I am not afraid of it.
It could sure be unnerving to a biker who doesn't know it, muzzled though it be.