The Native Iowan

Friday here, last day of the 7th month.

Weather so grand I’ve spent the last two days on two wheels. Yesterday was on-the-road for about 7 hours. Did about 500ks/ 300miles. Today did about 200k/125miles. I’ll probably go for a good ride tomorrow just to make it 3days running.

Riding makes you stronger, smarter, more aware, happier… I very much enjoy riding.

Riding makes me a bit sore n tired but I like it. I am out of shape. Have not been riding much at all.

It’s like tattooing, or the dentist… When you get off the bike at the end of a long run, it feels so good, you smile. When the Ink-Master turns the needle off, you smile. When the dentist tells you its all over, you smile.

When you stop the joyful pain and stress that is riding, you smile with relief. You feel as though you’ve earned your first beer. It’s perhaps a sense of accomplishment? With a pinch of having cheated death, again?

Or is it just my catholic upbringing. The suffering/ reward attitude that is a big part of Catholicism. I always figured that’s why Catholics kneel to so much. Reenforces the suffering/ reward lesson. Like having to eat your peas in order to get the cherry pie.

I always hated peas!

The birds here are noisy. In such fine weather all creatures great and small are hapi.

It was kinda chilly this morn (and yesterday) when I hit the road. The sunny skies are nice. But they promise warmth they do not have… Riding through the valleys, in the deep shade, its quite chilly. I wore fingerless gloves and at one point it got very cold.

Bikes and Ink… I dig both. Both make be hapi. And if you dont get it, I can’t explain it.

So… as parts of the USA burn, as the world’s boarders stay closed, as powder blues skies shine and the whispering wind tells seductive tales…

Big smiles

More later