Friday, January 13, 2012
Fourth Dimension
Today it started out rain, the temperature dropped, the wind intensified, and we ended up with snow. The snow covered the trees as it sometimes does. There was kind of a fluff on each branch. The edges were hard to discern, I really couldn't tell where height, width, and depth started, or ended. Looking into a woods, the dimensions seemed to have changed. I suppose since it was a rare phenomenon, this snow covered scenery, that my senses had trouble taking it in. The view was almost unreal. My mind tried familiar references to understand it and found none. I knew the three dimensions; height, width, and depth. A snow covered woods seemed to me as if it was a fourth dimension. All I could consistently do was wonder at the beauty.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Skid Mark
Yesterday evening I was fortunate enough to be able to ride on a nice January day. I passed a runner just as I turned the first corner from my house. Riding my short town route, I saw a friend outside with his daughter, and stopped to say hello. I was probably about one mile into the ride by then. We spoke briefly and, as I turned to continue the ride, there went the same jogger. We had both used the same route. I overtook her and complimented her pace. "I'm not keeping up very well, this is the second time I passed you," I said. She smiled and we encouraged each other to enjoy the day.
My ride only lasted about a half an hour because the sun was nearly down before I started. When I climbed onto the bicycle I was still in work clothes except for a helmet and a reflective vest. This time of year one has to hurry, after working a full day, to get in any evening ride at all. I suppose that is what the squirrel I saw was doing. He was trying to get in just a few moments of food gathering while the sun was shinning and temperatures were moderate.
The unfortunate thing about the squirrel was that he was flat. I could tell a car driver had tried to stop before hitting the little creature. The poor four legged fellow could not have had less fortunate timing and managed to get under the wheel just as it was stopping. There was a gooey skid mark, about two feet long, that ended with the flat, dead, squirrel. I had never seen such a skid mark. When thinking about the situation it occurred to me that both the driver and the animal were trying to do what they thought right. The squirrel was hurrying to keep from being caught, and the driver stopped to avoid hitting the animal. Sometimes even when we try to do the right thing the outcome is not what we seek. We still must try to do what we have learned is the right thing. Only when we discover it isn't right can we change.
My ride only lasted about a half an hour because the sun was nearly down before I started. When I climbed onto the bicycle I was still in work clothes except for a helmet and a reflective vest. This time of year one has to hurry, after working a full day, to get in any evening ride at all. I suppose that is what the squirrel I saw was doing. He was trying to get in just a few moments of food gathering while the sun was shinning and temperatures were moderate.
The unfortunate thing about the squirrel was that he was flat. I could tell a car driver had tried to stop before hitting the little creature. The poor four legged fellow could not have had less fortunate timing and managed to get under the wheel just as it was stopping. There was a gooey skid mark, about two feet long, that ended with the flat, dead, squirrel. I had never seen such a skid mark. When thinking about the situation it occurred to me that both the driver and the animal were trying to do what they thought right. The squirrel was hurrying to keep from being caught, and the driver stopped to avoid hitting the animal. Sometimes even when we try to do the right thing the outcome is not what we seek. We still must try to do what we have learned is the right thing. Only when we discover it isn't right can we change.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year - Old Instincts
The year 2011 was full of so much. Bicycle tours, travel with friends, work, family and gifts from God. I could hardly take it all in. Now there is another year to fill. The first bicycle ride was a mere seventeen miles, but it had some fillers. Robins flitted from branches to earth and back. The westerly winds continued to be prominent.
The second ride of the year, on January 2nd, was even better than the first. Robins again, the sound of a jay, and several Cardinals. The red flashes of these beautiful birds were uplifting. The Cardinals often pair up and stay in this area all winter. Today's ride had a community that was three pairs of Cardinals. They seemed to be keeping up with me for a while. Some flying ahead a short distance to wait and others perched in the branches next to where I was. Short flights took them back and forth across my field ov vision. I don't know if they were just curious, hoping I would flush out a bit of something to eat, or just playful. It was a delightful experience.
The trail was covered with a small amount of snow. My tires have enough tread on them that they were picking up the snow. It packed between fender and wheels. At one time I looked down at the front fender. It seemed as if the fender had grown since the snow, molded by the shape of the fender, was being slowly pushed out the front. This snow packing made it seem I was riding with my brakes on, there was so much resistance. Snow even began to push out the sides of the fenders. But, these were the same problems anyone faces when riding in winter snow. After the ride I parked the bicycle where melting snow would not harm the floor. Then I cleaned the frame and chain, relubricated the chain, and made a few adjustments. The snow had produced some good excuses to maintain my bicycle.
The second ride of the year, on January 2nd, was even better than the first. Robins again, the sound of a jay, and several Cardinals. The red flashes of these beautiful birds were uplifting. The Cardinals often pair up and stay in this area all winter. Today's ride had a community that was three pairs of Cardinals. They seemed to be keeping up with me for a while. Some flying ahead a short distance to wait and others perched in the branches next to where I was. Short flights took them back and forth across my field ov vision. I don't know if they were just curious, hoping I would flush out a bit of something to eat, or just playful. It was a delightful experience.
The trail was covered with a small amount of snow. My tires have enough tread on them that they were picking up the snow. It packed between fender and wheels. At one time I looked down at the front fender. It seemed as if the fender had grown since the snow, molded by the shape of the fender, was being slowly pushed out the front. This snow packing made it seem I was riding with my brakes on, there was so much resistance. Snow even began to push out the sides of the fenders. But, these were the same problems anyone faces when riding in winter snow. After the ride I parked the bicycle where melting snow would not harm the floor. Then I cleaned the frame and chain, relubricated the chain, and made a few adjustments. The snow had produced some good excuses to maintain my bicycle.
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