It is raining now. Not the severe storms predicted but a nice, gentle rain. The weatherman says a cold front is on the way, but earlier today we had perfect late May weather, temps in the low 80’s, a cloudless sky and brisk winds. Wonder what it will be like when May actually arrives?
John called this morning around 9:30 and asked if I wanted to pick him up around 11:00 for a bike ride at lunch. I said sure and promptly started piddling around the house. A little after 10:00, while I was securing the bike rack on the car, he called back to let me know his mid-morning student had canceled and he was ready to go now. Oh! I quickly gathered the bike, accessories, water and self together and took off to the University. We were on our bikes and peddling laps in his neighborhood by 11:00.
After a few warm-up laps, we left the security of the neighborhood and headed out into traffic. John wanted to hard ride but I hadn’t been on the bike for a few weeks, my legs burned and I was bothered by the traffic. Yea, okay, and I was a little whiny about it.
The wind seeming to be blowing in what ever direction we were trying to ride. One rather fierce gust spewed dirt against our faces and arms and almost knocked John off the bike (he had loosened his grip). We ducked in and out of side streets trying to avoid the worst of the lunch hour traffic. I rode for 55 minutes, John finished faster. While I crawled up the last steep, hill, he sprinted. He was in the shower by the time I got my slow butt up the hill and to the house. Oh well, we both rode 10 miles, mine was just at an 11mph pace.
The plan is for me to do more riding over the next couple of weeks. Since I am still having inflammation with a nerve (or tendon) running from my hip down the back of my leg, John has banned me from swimming until the pain is gone and I am taking an undetermined number of days off from running. The problem originated during a swim and running, especially uphill, seems to aggravate it. The discomfort has been around at some varying level of intensity for the past month. It is time for things to get better before they get worse! Biking seems to have no effect on the inflammation.
Spring continues to pop up all over the yard. I have posted a few pictures below.
Korean Spice Viburnum. The flowers of the Korean Spice smell of sweet vanilla and spices. The fragrance is so strong that it hijacks an entire corner of the yard when the bush is in full bloom. To me, it is one of the most memorable scents of Spring!
This bright red and yellow tulip is the most cheerful flower in my garden!
Tulip time in Tennessee!
