After a dismal running week (3 miles on Monday, 3 miles on Thursday), I am officially burned out! John has been a little concerned about my lack of enthusiasm, so last night, while we were on Market Square watching the outdoor stage presentation of The Merchant of Venice, he suggested we pass on the Saturday Farmer’s Market and go for a bicycle ride on greenway. Good idea!
This morning we climbed on our mountain bikes. Our final destination was John’s house but we planned to ride out to the sunflower fields on the Will Skelton greenway first. The entire trip starting at the old BiLo in Bearden, approximately 19.0 miles. We rode at a comfortable pace, stopping on occasion to take photos and drink water. In the 90+* heat, we generated enough breeze on our bikes to keep us comfortable. It was just the run break I needed.
Below are a few photos from our ride:
John getting ready to go under Neyland Drive. This is a great place to cross a really busy 4 lane highway and it looks like the Canadian geese have discovered it too. We had to pause while they crossed from 2nd Creek to a feeding spot near the greenway. These guys cross in single file formation, no hurry here! Note the first goose popping up just above the concrete bricks.
The sunflower field is spectacular even though many flowers are “on the way out.” About 50% have already lost their petals and the birds have begun to pick at the maturing seeds in the center. We are about 1 week too late for full bloom.
The flowers in the above 2 pictures are different but, well, with the exception of the flower size, every sunflower in this field looks about the same as the next. The flowers are covered in bees so the whole field hums.
John on a dirt road in front of the sunflower field. The sunflowers are planted by TWRA (TN Wildlife Resources Agency) who manages the fields and East TN Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the greenway. John has biked extensively through the wildlife management area we decided to turn off the greenway and follow the dirt-gravel road back to the main road.
Yep, that’s me with my 1990’s helmet and shirt. Maybe I will get a new helmet for Christmas….hint, hint, hint.
We followed the dirt road to this gravel road, which led out. This was my first effort on my mountain bike since a memorable wreck in Panther Creek State Park in 2001. Needless to say, I took things nice and easy…I can still remember the pain!
On the way home, we detoured to Island Home Airport, bicycling to the security fence to watch a couple of planes take off. Island Home is the “private” airport in Knoxville. Most of the planes are quite small, but as we rode to a gate at the back of the airport, we saw this hanger with the Remote Area Medical planes. You may have seen the 60 Minutes piece on RAM, if not, check check out this link http://www.ramusa.org/index.html They do good things for the needy here and abroad.
Photo from a bridge near Island Home Airport. The photo looks directly toward Knoxville. Tennessee School for the Deaf and the greenway are to the left (behind the trees), the runway for the airport is to the right.
Finally we made it to John’s for a quick, healthy lunch. On the menu for John, whole wheat bread and natural peanut butter with cucumbers, tomatoes and a side of pear. John says this is a good combination, a refreshingly summer version of a peanut butter sandwich. I am not so sure. 
On the other hand, I had a salad with lettuce, squash, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and pears topped with light blue cheese. I also had a grilled cheese (no butter). Yummy!
