In the years since 2007, when this blog was founded, I don't believe I have ever passed through a month when I posted only one entry. Fanatical fact-checkers may work their way through all those years and discover that I'm mistaken. If so, I concede graciously, while wondering at the absence of better ways of spending one's time. (But I grow bitingly sarcastic in my Old Age.)
Whatever. Whatever my past history, I don't want April 2024 to be a one-post month. Hence, this post -- my second after my discussion in mid-month of my forthcoming biking trip, a trip that is now only ten days away.
I still have no thoughts -- whether approving, disapproving, or merely puzzled -- about the state of the world and its many obsessions. I suspect that as I grow older, I've more or less given up on Man's Fate. I hope not. Only the future can tell.
But what I am interested in is my upcoming travels to and within France. In preparation, as noted in my last post, I've been going on distance rides of similar length to what I'll confront in the Loire Valley. I had reached 22 miles two weeks ago. I've done rides of 24 and 26 miles since then, plus a few shorter rides just to keep limbered up. Only one day on the actual tour exceeds 26 miles -- the second day, between Beaugency and Blois, will be thirty miles. I don't think I need to reach that mileage here at home to be prepared -- thirty miles is just like 26 miles but a little longer. If I'm wrong, I'll wait and be surprised.
I've been averaging about two bike rides per week. I would have done more, but we've had persistent rain -- never a lot, but always enough to make me reluctant to get too far from home and find that "showers" have turned into "hours-long downpour." The weather looks good for tomorrow, and I think I'll ride 20 miles in the afternoon. The ten-mile point on the Burke-Gilman trail, the turn-around point, measured from my house, itself a long mile from the trail itself -- has the fortuitous benefit of being marked by a friendly Starbucks. I can stop for R&R -- a little caffeine, a free glass of water, a little rest for my tender rear end -- before beginning the ride back home.
I should note that the Burke-Gilman trail itself is worth riding. It follows the shore of Lake Washington, passes through very nice neighborhoods, and is beautifully landscaped in forested land that makes you forget that urban Seattle is just a block distant from the trail. So my practice rides are fun and rewarding, as well as a bit laborious. Just as the Loire will be, once I'm there, I suspect.
Wish me well, and I'll summarize the experience upon my return. (Yeah! I've now done two posts in April!)
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Photo -- Park in the Matthews Beach area, alongside the Burke-Gilman trail.
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