Adventures in Cycling

Yesterday was Little Red. I went into the ride hoping to survive in spite of my rather untraditional training schedule--running the first month and a crash course in cycling since returning to Utah. Not only did we survive, we did really well! I rode with my sister-in-law, Shannon, and her sister Kira. Three ended up being a great number. We worked well together. We increased our average speed to 17 mph (from 15.5 last year). And, most importantly, we had a great time--a hundred miles of it!

Greg and Josh were our biggest fans. They ran along part of the course and cheered for us as we passed. They met us for lunch and gave us great coaching, that probably saved the ride, and then they came to four different spots during the second half of the ride to hoop and holler and encourage us. Somehow they also managed to squeeze in a trip to the Pepperidge Farm outlet, a stop at the Fat Boy outlet, a hamburger and milk shake lunch, and a couple angel of mercy errands--not a bad day on their end either.

During our training rides we had several memorable moments this year. We encountered the usual grumpy country dog, saw several snakes who met their doom on the road, and learned the names and calls of a few birds. We also learned by experience what it means to bonk or hit your wall as it is called in running. All of us had that fun experience at some point this year. Josh was so loopy coming down Immigration Canyon after our ride up Big Mountain that he thought we were home when we got to the zoo; maybe there is a message in that. We also had a few less typical cycling adventures. On our first ride together we came across some cows on the road. We turned cowgirl for a few minutes and herded the cattle down the road until they figured out they could turn and run off into the bushes. During our last training ride we were chased by...a goat! It came running out of the driveway and chased us down the road just like the dogs do. Something about the maa maa rather that a growl and sharp teeth took some of the intimidation factor out, but he gave it his best shot.

Josh, Kate and Jane went to spend a few days at the Woodfords’ house earlier this week. I visited them a few times, but Henry the cat and I can’t share living quarters. The girls had a wonderful time. They played puppets and magnets and ball and read stories and explored the yard. Our girls certainly lucked out in the grandparent department.

Kate had one misadventure this week. She was swinging which is one of her favorite activities. Josh was pushing her and she kept asking to go higher and higher and higher. Right as Josh gave her a final huge push the rope on the swing broke and she went flying. Josh said the whole event went in slow motion for him and the only comforting thing is that he could see by the way she was landing that she would be okay. Kate told me that right when she was “going super high the rope broke and first I flew and then I crashed onto the ground.” Thankfully, she was fine--shaken up and mad at her Dad, but physically fine. Later that day in the car she said to Josh, “Daddy, when I was flying through the air I should have just flapped my wings...my arms like wings and then I wouldn’t have fallen to the ground.”

The biggest surprise, maybe even more than surviving Little Red, is that my brother, Alan, showed up this week. We haven’t heard from him since last December. We have thought about him every day. We have prayed for him every day. We have emailed him and hoped for the best. Yesterday when we came home from Logan he was sitting on the deck talking to my mom. I was so surprised to see him. All I could do was hug him with tears rolling down my face and tell him how happy I was to see him.