Art In The Outdoors

Creative Kids

Just outside my front door some kid art on the sidewalks. Very creative and entertaining. 

I thought this one was awesome. 

Sky Painting

Mother nature doing her cloud art again. 

Empty Streets

Omega Man

Well, not empty. Certainly not Robert-Neville-running-alone-with-a-sub-machine-gun quiet. Empty-ish.  Empty adjacent.

This morning's bike ride seemed a lot like an early Sunday morning. Some activity but substantially less than a normal Spring Thursday morning. A lot of the activity is dogs out walking their humans, some humans walking by themselves, some construction and utility work. I've noticed a lot more people out riding bikes. Many of them obviously reacquainting themselves with their bike after much disuse. A lot of kids riding in-lieu of school.

One of the striking things is riding past school, playgrounds and sports fields. Absolute stillness.

Complacency

One disturbing trend is that many of the few people out driving around are getting complacent. I'm experiencing more close calls from morons not paying attention to what they are doing with their 2-ton death machine. This morning was no exception. Almost squished by a dolt who tried to left turn onto the street I was on. 

After doing a panic stop I loudly expressed my displeasure. He tried to do the lame "I'm sorry wave," but I was having none of it. I don't carry about your sorry-it-was-just-a-simple-mistake. PAY ATTENTION! 

Random Cough: A Coronavirus Tale

I'm making French lentil soup, with the bacon I smoked and cured myself. Also made with chicken broth I made a few months ago.

I had just set my latest soup attempt to simmer and decided to take a short walk to the nearest convenience store. I wanted some beer.

It was short walk. Since traffic isn't as heavy as usual, I could enjoy the songbirds and the wind making noise in the trees.

I found the beer and got in line. We were all dutifully performing social distance by standing well apart. As I was waiting my stupid sinuses (oak is in the very high range right now and all the others are moderate), started sending signals to my brain that a cough was needed. Not just needed but mandatory, a physiologic imperative.

Me: "must not cough"
Brain: "thou shalt cough...now"
Me: "not going to cough"
Brain: "cough...you know you want to"
Me: "no!"
Throat: "kinda itchy here, can I get a cough?"

I managed to suppress the cough. I'm not sure how. Paid for my beer and quickly exited the store and found an isolated spot in the parking lot to cough.  I suppose I could have coughed into my elbow in the store but I didn't want to freak people out and have to try to explain sinuses and brachial irritation.

Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh

Q: Why do Marines beat their heads against the wall?

A: Because it feels good when they stop.

I've never let weather limit my outdoor activities. Well, that's not strictly true. I don't play in the lightning, and hurricanes and tornados tend to make me seek hardened shelter.  Other than that I only make adjustments in clothing and preparation.

This probably comes from my background growing up in the Northwest, especially Seattle.  If you didn't play outside in the rain, you didn't play outside. And my mom wasn't going to put up with us hellions inside all day. There was all that backpacking in Boy Scouts, going to college in Montana and working summers for the Forest Service. The only thing that kept us out of the woods in northern Idaho was lightning. Of course, let us not forget all the field time in the Marines.

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." 

 And so it was on this morning's ride. When I started out the weather wasn't that bad. Gray skies, gusty winds from the north, light rain showers.

About the halfway point God decided to test my sense of humor. I got hit with a deluge. I've come to believe God is a practical joker. If you don't laugh along, she just keeps pulling tricks until you do. This is my philosophy when I get a flat tire. I just laugh and say "good one," and go about changing the tube.

I started laughing at all the water falling from the sky. All the water spraying off my tires. All the water splashing from the passing vehicles. Vehicles full of people with concerned looks at the obviously crazy person laughing at being wet.

But she wasn't done with me yet. About 2 miles from home the skies opened up again. Big fat stinging rain drops.

Hilarious.

What is that thing?

Since getting my recumbent trike I've noticed an interesting response. When I encounter dogs out walking their humans almost every one of them stops and stares. It's like they're not really sure what I am and what to do about it. Sometimes they look up at the human in confusion.

Is it a bicycle? Should I bark? Is this something I should chase?

What. Is. That. Thing?

Positive Trends

Today's ride was enjoyable. Just shy of 35 miles. I've started to notice some encouraging trends regarding my fitness and health.  2019 was a horrendous year for me. 2020 is my comeback year.

• Running out of gears. I'm pedaling in higher and higher gears. I'm not having to downshift on the lesser hills. Leg strength and muscular endurance are improving.
• Heart rate reserve.  I'm doing the same speed at a lower heart rate.  I am also able to generate more speed and still have a cushion before I hit max.
• Heart.  My resting and sedentary heart rates are slowly decreasing. Estimated VO2 Max is slowly increasing. Blood pressure is settling down.
• Sleep.  Sleep cycle is stabilizing. I'm able to fall asleep with no difficulty.  Still some interruptions but I return to sleep easily. Waking rested and ready to go. 

I'm also running out of belt notches, which means I'm starting to get rid of all the visceral fat I built up last year. 

Be Careful What You Wish For

A few months ago I was reminded of the annual invasion of Austin for the SXSW festival.  It's not that I'm really against it. It has become a standing complaint of many long term residents. The insane traffic (in a place that already has transportation issues), the inability to visit your favorite downtown restaurant, et cetera.  It is fashionable to hurl insults and make fun of the gathering.

For me it is the nauseating commentary about the latest movie, song, band, gadget, or whatever.  The breathless marketing of yet another string of tiresome panels of blah blah yada blah.  The large herds of people moving through the airport.  Yet more people getting introduced to Austin and the spreading fallacy that it would be good to move here.

So I jokingly exclaimed "dear god, make it go away."  Can't say it's my fault but part of me wonders if the universe conjured up a nasty virus to fulfill my wish.  The increasing viral panic (pun intended) and calls for cancellation are entertaining.  My mind is also entertained by the realization that humans, as a species, seem less resilient than we should be.