Photo from the Farm Art dtour route. I guess it's a castle? Another day, as I rode by the field exhibit in the morning, I flashed another picture of the rising sun and the hay bale castle.

The mornings have been great for biking except a little cold. When I left today, it was 32 degrees. I rode to White Mound State Park, cut through the park and peddled home. On one particularly steep hill, I wanted to get off and walk, but I was a little shy of 17 miles into the ride and I wanted to be able to say that I hadn't gotten off the bike until the 18th mile, so I struggled up the hill. When I finally reached the 18th mile, I was up the hill! I continued on, without stopping to rest and ended up riding 26 miles non-stop! 1584 miles for the year...

I rode the Farm Art Dtour this afternoon. It's supposed to be 50 miles but I only tallied 42. The photo above was taken along Jesop road between Ironton and LaValle. I was dead tired by the time I rolled into Reedsburg and then I had to ride another 10 miles home! I had a burger and a couple of beers at the Corner pub before I rode out into the night on the last leg of that journey. I'm home now. One thousand five hundred miles and more for the season so far!

Blustery Day in Wisconsin

Trees today, October 8

Same Trees September 21

It's a windy day in Wisconsin, too windy to ride bike. It's hard to photograph the wind, but the bare trees tell the story of what's happening in Wisconsin today. The large cottonwood tree in back is bare, the maple trees are half stripped of their leaves, but the evergreens and lilacs hold on. Autumn has arrived!

Maybe tonight, if the wind dies down, I'll go for a ride... that would be fun! If I do, I'll add to this blog posting. If not, I'll work indoors and workout in the exercise room downstairs.

Tyranena Oktoberfest Bike Ride 2012

Riders getting ready....

The 2012 Tyranena Oktoberfest Bike Ride was the first group biking event that I've been involved in. Up until now, with only a couple of exceptions, I've riden solo for the entire 1400+ miles that I've traveled this summer. Today was a very different experience; I was rider number 1466 out of the event's 1750 participants! I didn't get a photo of the line of bikers out on the highway but believe me when I say it was impressive.

Plenty of port-a-potty's and outdoor tables.

My tag number

I set my alarm for 6:00 am, as I had to finish packing, load up the bike, and try to imagine how to dress and what to bring with me on this ride. The morning was cold. Overnight lows were in the 30's and by the start of the ride the temperature had only climbed into the low 40's.

I thought I would ride the full 70 miles, if possible, but three things got in my way: hills, wind, and cold. Although over the summer, I have riden 50 and 60+ miles in a day, I think the 25 miles I rode today was pushing my limit! Where I ride in Sauk, Richland, and Juneau counties, we have hills... plenty of them. I had hoped that the Lake Mills, Wisconsin area might be a little flatter. Not so! They have hills too! The second curse of the day was wind. Predictions were for westerly winds of around 10 mph, turning northwesterly by afternoon. I left Lake mills around 10:00 or later, and headed what seemed north towards Waterloo and I swear the wind was in our face the whole way! The third curse was that being so cold and having to dress warm, and then working so hard against the wind, it resulting in becoming overly hot and sweating profusely. On our first break, at the Trek facility in Waterloo, I quickly became cold although I was wearing Under Armor clothing. I was soaked inside!

Riders at the first rest stop. Food tent and a bike repair truck.

I dawdled a bit before I left the Trek rest stop. Apparently, I lingered for too long. I wasn't sure how to read the map of the different routes, and then I misplaced my map, so I followed the line of bikers, not thinking about where the different routes split off. After a few miles though, I began to sense that I was no longer with the fast riders I traveled with before, so I pulled up to someone and asked which route we were on... the 25 mile one! I had missed the turn a couple miles back for the 50 and 70 mile route, but by then I also understood that time was going to be an issue. I average 10 to 12 mph and that's about the best I can do with my bike, this morning I came in at 11.?? which wasn't bad for me, but was way too slow for the longer courses. Had I maintained that speed and setled for the 50 mile route I wouldn't have finished until 4:00pm or later! At that point, I settled back to enjoy as much as possible the short run.

Very pretty in the tent and warmer than outside,
 but not enough!

A pork sandwich, fruit, potato salad, chips and cookies!

I arrived back at the tent and cashed in my meal and drink ticket. The food was good and so was the Blond and Porter ales. I would have bought a few 6 packs at $7 but didn't feel like trying to bike them back to the car... where ever that was at! Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten a real good sense of the layout of the town. My car was in a lot a few blocks away from the brewery but I didn't have a clue! At least when I forget where I pack in Wal-mart I know the car has to be somewhere in the parking lot, but now cold, tired, and just wanting to get into a warm vehicle... I knew I parked somewhere in Lake Mills! I took off on the bike and was actually heading in the right direction when I doubted myself and turned back to eventually take a back road, turn on my cell's Navigator, and finally find my vehicle.

It was a long day but a fun time. I hope to do it again next year. I hope the weather is better like it was earlier in the week, and I'll know how to watch for the route signage now. My bike is a good one, a Specialized, but old and heavy.  I watched the people who blew by me with their shinny Treks and Cannondales. Sure, they were probably in their 20's, 30's or 40's and I'm 61 going on 62, but I hope I can upgrade by next year...

For now, I have warm-weather clothing and maybe time enough left this year to achieve my goal of 2,000 miles for the year.

Secrete Lake...

A hidden lake...

 

  Wednesday October 3rd, the third day of my vacation. I rode to a hidden lake. Beautiful! My daughter knew about it, I'd never heard of it.

We rode out of Rock Springs, through the train museum at North Freedom and then to the lake. The leaves were brilliant, the lake was like glass, the afternoon was perfect for a fall bike ride.

After the ride we went to the library in Reedsburg to hear a guy talk about monsters, aliens, and all things creepy! After all, it is October in Wisconsin. We've just enjoyed a 'Blue Moon'. Halloween is coming soon and then winter... I'm looking forward to a time of warm evenings spent next to a wood fire... and a good book.

My daughter and I passing through a train museum. 

Vacation

Panorama photo taken near Ironton, Wisconsin.

I began my October vacation with a few days of beautiful weather, and some 20 and 30 mile rides in the autumn sun. I down-loaded a Panorama App for my cell phone, very cool!

Although the last couple of days have been wonderful, the weather doesn't look so nice for the October  Fest ride coming up on Saturday. Temperature between 26 and 50 degrees, northwest winds at 9 mph, 30% chance of rain!

Yesterday I passed 1,400 miles for the year. Woo hoo!

Falling like Rain

Leaves begin to fall

Leaves falling from trees.

A few days ago as I rode down a country road, the air around me was alive with falling leaves; falling like rain, but fluttering like little birds with each breath of autumn breeze through the trees. I almost passed by without a photo but the moment was so magical that I turned back. I never did catch the air as filled with falling leaves as when I first encountered the moment, but I did manage to photograph some.

At another point along the way, I passed a beautifully fenced pasture with the fall leaves changing in the woods along the edge of the pasture.

Today is Saturday, one week before the big ride next weekend. I can't wait. I hope the weather is as awesome next weekend as it is today, that would make a perfect day for the Tyranena October Fest ride. Although I've skipped riding Tuesday and today of this week, I have added 105 miles making my yearly total 1,350 miles. I'm getting closer to my goal of 2,000 miles for the year. I think I can... I think I can!

A country cemtary

Pond in the hills of Sauk County

October 6, 2012: I'm signed up to ride in the Tyranena October Fest ride starting in Lake Mills. Long-range forecast is starting to look good, and I've been riding around 20 miles a day in preparation for the 70 mile loop of the ride.

Preparing for Cold Weather Ride

Hat, helmet, mirror, windbreaker, and a red face as I come in from a 22 mile ride with temps in the 40's!

It's 2:00AM on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. I just got back from a 22 mile ride; the temperature was 41 degrees. I was very comfortable and wish I could have riden more!

I'm testing out new clothing I bought Monday as I look forward to the Tyranena October Fest bike ride October 6th. This will be my first group ride. The Tyranena bike-ride is limited to 1750 riders and when I registered it was 80% filled! I have the choice of a 20, 50, or 70 mile route. Since I just road 22 miles tonight, after work, for the heck of it...  it doesn't make sense to commit to a day's event for anything less than at least 50 miles, or, unless the wind is against me, 70. The big thing for me now is planning and preparing what to wear.

Clothing

Up until now, I've been wearing regular stuff. No spandex. No biking cloths, just regular duds.  But, as I thought about an October ride, I decided I needed to invest in cold weather, biking specific, clothing. 

Normal temperatures for October range from 40's to 60's. I bought Underarmour Compression Base-layer tights and tops, and outer Nike wind breaker jacket and pants. If the weather is anywhere near normal, I should be dressed adequately.

I'm experimenting with what regular cloths to wear in-between these two crucial layers. I think I know what bring... One thing worthy of note about the windbreaker pants is that I bought what I have used at a second hand store for $3. The other jacket and pants were $50 to $80 at Dicks sporting goods in Madison. I saved some big bucks on the windbreaker pants, but the zippers on the legs are coming undone, so I need to do some sewing there.

I was glad to go out tonight and ride in the 40 degree weather in preparation for the Tyranena ride. The moon was bright and trafic in the country was extremely light. I think I could have riden for hours...

I think I've made good choices, and I am ready to ride regardless of the weather on the 6th.

Fall Showers

Corn fields have become brown, leaves are turning to fall colors and falling from trees, and the days have become windier. Bike rides are beautiful but sometimes excruciatingly hard. The last couple days have found me riding through some very light showers at times. The weather predictions are for snow any day now!

When I left at 9:00 am this morning, the temperature was still in the forties. Twenty six miles later, I rode into a brisk 50-some-degree wind. My inner cloths were soaked in sweat, my face felt wind-burned, and my legs, back and butt were crying out in pain. The wind-breaker jacket and Nike pants did a pretty good job of keeping my body warm... but my face. My head! Soaked in sweat and exposed to the wind; I was miserable! It was one of the first rides where I kept thinking of calling to be picked up. Instead, I kept thinking about the finish and finally it arrived.

My back has been teetering on a breakdown, and the last 10 miles I was afraid it might happen. My knees hurt and I was cold as I wobbled into the house. Slowly, I got undressed, drew a hot bath in the garden tub, and enjoyed my reward for a strenuous morning ride. I turned on the whirlpool and sunk into the luxury of the hot swirling bubbles...

Amazing things have begun to happen with my diabetes. My blood glucose was at 117 this morning when I awoke and 103 after the ride. I did the morning ride without breakfast, which is something that I need to stop doing. I did take my morning drink of 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon (heaping) Ceylon Cinnamon, and 1 heaping tablespoon of orange flavored Metamucil.

My total miles since spring is 1231 miles. I'm wondering if I'll make it to 1,500 miles much less the 2,000 miles that I had hoped for.

Last night I got the packet from a friend to join her team riding next year in an MS fund-raiser. I'm looking forward to not only a strong finish riding for fun this year but maybe a new challenge in 2013... If anyone reads this and you are from the Western Sauk County/Eastern Richland/Southern Juneau county area, and up for some challenging fun on a bike... please contact me! Also, I've meet some friends that would bike, if they had a bike... I gave away my Raleigh on Friday.

Fall in Wisconsin

Fall is in the air in Wisconsin and biking has become a little harder because of the windy days and cooler temperatures. A light frost on Tuesday or Wednesday took out the leaves on the squash, that's how quickly fall is arriving. I can't afford expensive biking clothing for the changing season, so I've visited neighborhood thrift stores and found some clothing that works for me, for now. My favorite is a Nike sport pant with cotton lining. It's light, wind resistant, loose, yet not too lose around the pedals. Sadly, it has a few seams starting to come undone. $3 dollars was all it cost. I hope it will do for this season.

On Wednesday, I left for a ride in a light rain with temperatures down in the fifty's. By the time I returned home, the rain had stopped, but the wind throughout the ride gave me quite a workout, even though I only covered 10 miles. My average mph dropped to eight-something!

The biking exercise, spaghetti squash meals, and a new drink I've been taking before meals is resulting in some amazing low blood sugar readings and even a few sugar crashes! That's very good news. My drink that I take in the morning consists of 1 tablespoon Orange flavored Metamucil, 1 teaspoon of Ceylon Cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder. In the afternoons I usually substitute Crystal Light for the Metamucil for my evening meal. It seems like I'm loosing more weight as the glucose readings continue to improve.

More Photos from 1,000 miles of Wisconsin

Near LaValle, Wisconsin, is a small park called Hemlock Park. If you're willing to brave the swamp with scurrying snakes and leaping frogs, and walk out onto the grassy isthmus, there are some beautiful elderberries. I picked some one year and made elderberry wine.


The rolling hills of Sauk County

Fish Pond Road

Roads I've never traveled before... Fish Pond, I love it!

September rides.... I had a few days off from biking during my recent weekend. I was busy, it rained, one thing and another, and the days slip past. I got back on track yesterday with an eighteen-mile comeback. This morning, I rode 24 miles as I took the back roads from Lime Ridge to Reedsburg and then came back home. My total for the year is now over 1,100 miles!

I'm watching the fields as I ride, the corn harvest is beginning.

I smell the air. Today I smell corn silage. I smell a smoky smell of something burning and the pungent smell of fresh spread manure slurry on fields. Sometimes I pass newly cut hay and that smells sweet, other times I smell death, dead animals, I usually can't tell if it's a dead wild animal like a deer or coon, or if it's a domestic animal nearby but I smell death in the air. I look forward to the fall smells of dry leaves and dead grass.

I ride by so many homes and farms. I try not to stare, but I get ideas as I see things that other people have done. The building at the left interested me. It's a combination of concrete floor and temporary tent style structure.

 I worry about dogs, I don't want to be bitten but occasionally I'm chased. As I passed the farm with the tent style calf barn, a little doggie came out to chase me.

I used voice command, "No!"and "Go home", and the little doggie can't keep up as I peddle down the road. There have been other dogs, bigger dogs, and I wasn't going downhill but up. Those are scarier times. I've seen other riders with canine teethe marks on their legs, I don't want to be like them but I haven't decided on a good solution yet. So far, I've been lucky.... so far!

A Thousand Miles

I achieved two milestones on the 22 of August. First, I passed a thousand miles of biking for the summer, and secondly, I rode over 60 miles in a day, 64 miles to be exact. My rides are seldom planned, so when I left on Wednesday, I had no plan of where to ride to. My blood sugar was high from the previous day's splurge on a family trip, so the one thing I did want to do was take a long ride and maybe travel the 32 miles I needed to complete one-thousand miles. As it turned out, I road twice the miles I needed to meet that milestone!

Carr Valley Cheese Factory

I started out by riding to Lime Ridge and then I peddled north on highway G passing the Carr Valley Cheese factory. I think Carr Valley makes the best cheese and the best cheese curds. My wife works there and that may skew my judgement slightly. She was on vacation this week, so I didn't stop. 

After passing the cheese factory, I rode past Easter's Bakery. This is another Amish enterprise that's open during the summer. The little building is another Amish telephone booth, I think. 

The weather on Wednesday was perfect for riding bicycle: blue sky, sunshine, but not too hot. I did wake up on Thursday with a slight sunburn, so maybe there was a little too much sun?

Amish Bakery. Sign. And phone booth

Me and my shadow...we ride solo!

Looking back on the Village of Cazenovia as I peddled up Cunningham hill. 

Be the time I rode past Easter's Bakery, I was beginning to develop a plan, a destination. Valton. I took a back road to Cazenovia and after riding through the park, I planned to head north toward the little village of Valton. I've ridden to Valton once this summer, but on Wednesday, I chose a different route. I like traveling roads that are less-traveled and many times this summer I've ridden roads that I've never traveled before though they are so close to where I live.

Amish along the highway. 

Neat store....

The back roads to Valton were beautiful, filled with hills and valleys and interesting farms. After arriving in Valton.... and since I had the day off... I decided I would continue riding north to the Village of Hillsboro. Someone had told me about a store there that sold spices in bulk, and I wanted to purchase some Turmeric. The name of the store was Whitaker's Farm Fresh Market. It turned out to be a fine health food store with bulk spices, grains, and Amish canned produce. I bought a large tub of Turmeric (.27 lbs for $2.88) but I also found Braggs Apple Cider by the gallon. The price was a full dollar cheaper than what I had been paying for it but I decided that a gallon of cider would be too heavy for the ride. I returned on Thursday and purchased the cider.

Hops... what makes beer as we know it

A difficult to find bike path

I had a burger and a couple of beers at a motel/bar called Beezer, and then I rode the bike trails from Hillsboro to Union Center, Wonewoc, LaValle, and finally Reedsburg. Along the way, I found wild Hops growing in several areas. I raise hops for homebrewing beer, so I'm familiar with when they are ready to harvest. The trail hops weren't ready for harvest yet, but in a week or two they may be? I'll be sure to return to the trails with a bag so I can collect enough for a batch of 'Bike Trail' beer!

A swamp filled with some kind of purple flowered plant.

 I passed swamps filled with beautiful purple flowers and stopped for Culver's Ice Cream In Reedsburg. The sun was setting by the time I approached Loganville and it was dark when I arrived home.

Wednesday's ride was the longest I've ridden so far. I wasn't particularly spent, although I was pleasantly tired. This spring when I started riding, I never imagined that I would go this far and I don't know how far I'll still travel before winter ends my riding adventures. I didn't ride today, but spent time instead in my little exercise room here at the house. I'm afraid I'll be banished to that when the cold arrives, so I'm experimenting now.

In all my rides, I ride solo. I've only seen one other person riding the roads and two or three people riding the trails. So much beauty... so few taking the opportunity to enjoy....

Sunday Ride

19 August 2012 - My blood sugar has been running high in the mornings lately, so I knew I had to go for a longer ride today. It was past 9:30 A.M. by the time I feed the ducks, guineas, and chickens and got dressed for the ride. The temperature was in the high sixties, so I wore light shorts and my stretchy runners shirt.

Lime Ridge is a mile and a half away and from there I turned south on highway G. I pulled over a few times along the way to 'Wards Corners' to photograph more Amish businesses. The Amish don't want to be photographed but I don't see how it could hurt to photograph their homes and businesses, so I did.

This place has piles of lumber.

We bought a double seated glider with center table from this place for Sandy's Birthday earlier this spring.

"Wards Corner's' used to be a country store, gas station, garage, and living quarters but now appears abandoned as a business or home, and not well kept.

I rode past Wards Corners and turned east at the Sandusky Church. It's about 7 miles to the Sandusky Church. I like that route as traffic is usually light if any.  After I pass the church, I head south to White Mound Lake.

I'm supposed to have some kind of pass to enter White Mound Lake Park at a cost of $20 a year or $4 a day but I haven't bought that yet. The Park is part of the Sauk County parks system and I've been a tax-paying resident of the county all my life. I feel that I've already done my part to foot the bill for White Mound park, why am I being charged a ridiculous fee for a park I've already bought and paid for? Upkeep? Sure, but collect that from non-county residents, let the people that have bought and paid for the park use it, or at least pass through the park on the road that I'm sure is still maintained with our tax dollars.

Anyway, White Mound Park is 12 miles into my morning ride and I have to use the restrooms.  I venture into the boat landing area and use the outdoor toilets that reek like most outdoor toilets do.  I'm thinking in my head what to do if the park 'Ranger'... ranger Smith or whoever, catches me. I don't have my wallet, identification, nor any money. I figure I'd lie and say my name was Chris L---. That's a guy I work with, love to pester, and always threaten to use his name if I ever do anything that I might have to answer for!

All went well and I left the park unmolested by ranger Smith.

As I peddled my way toward Hillpoint, I noticed time was slipping by quickly, and I needed to hurry to get home and ready for work. I chose the shortest route from Hillpoint to my home even though it involved some challenging hills. Along the way, I passed a dirt-bike track that is not Amish but a local business all the same. It's about 3 miles from my house and I barely hear the dirt bikes on the weekend but would hate to have something like this closer and have to listen to racing bikes every weekend during the summer.

The morning ride took about 2 hours and ended at 21 miles. My total for the year is 947 miles. I should pass 1,000 miles before next weekend, what then?

When I started, I didn't have a goal in mind other than to ride a little four-mile ride and lower my blood sugar. Now I want to see every obscure side-road and take-in all the sights, sounds, and smells that summer in Wisconsin has to offer and I'm really noticing all of those.

I'll dedicate some future postings especially to the smells and the sounds of the country. Till then, have a safe journey...

Amish Country

Western Sauk County, where I live and do most of my bike riding, has seen a tremendous increase in Amish residents in the last couple of decades. Three or four decades ago, there were no Amish in our area but they came and their communities continue to grow and expand.

They have established many businesses out in the country: greenhouses, bakeries, vegetable stands, carpentry and cabinet shops, selling eggs, doing metal work, masonry, building sheds, and more. As I rode a 12 mile route this morning, these are a few of the Amish businesses that I encountered.

Sign in front of the barn below.

The main office...

 At a spot close to the above horseshoeing and horse drawn wagon business and close to at least three other Amish farms, there was an "Amish telephone booth". At least that's what I think it is. The Amish want to keep their families and their lives separate from the outside world even while living and working in 'our' world. Therefore, telephones are not allowed in these Amish homes,  nor even in their businesses yet somewhere close, but separated, you will often find a small building with a telephone in it.

Amish Phone Booth

There was clearly telephone wires connected to this building, and as I passed, I could see papers and notes on the wall inside. Amish businesses, with items for sale or services offered, will often have a phone number listed where you can leave a message and they'll get back to you... when they get around to stopping by the little Amish phone booth!

Sign pointing to an Amish Bakery

I'm leery of some of the Amish businesses. This sign pointing to the Windy Ridge Bakery proclaiming that it's open on Saturday apparently means that it is only open on Saturday during the summer! I stopped by last winter on a Saturday, walked in (to the basement part of the Amish house), only to find that I was standing in someone's house! The bakery was apparently closed for the winter, but they had neglected to change or cover their signs. Embarrassing!

These are only a few of the many Amish enterprises that are within 5 or 6 miles of where I live and where I rode my bike this morning. Here are a couple more photos from my morning bike ride...

Looking down from a hilltop through a valley

I love the pretty blue flowers/weeds along the road.

Photos from Northern Wisconsin

Sunday and Monday passed without time for a bike ride... Tuesday and nearly time for work. I'll do the short 4 mile ride today.

I received some photos from a friend who rides in northwestern Wisconsin. He messaged me some photos. I see I need to plan a ride up the trails yet before the end of the biking season and find the end of the trail myself.

I can't wait for that ride and I'll post the date and time if anyone wants to ride along.

With August already half over, fall is just around the corner.  Follow my blog if you want to see some gorgeous fall photos from along the bike trail and from around the State of Wisconsin.

Trempealeau Mountain and the end of the Great River Trail.

Backwaters of the Mississippi.

Pretty vegetation and pretty clouds... do you see the elephant
doing cartwheels in the clouds? Ha! Ha!

Three Culvert Road

I took a ride down a memory road this evening. It's a real road (roads) that holds a bunch of memories for me.

At the end of our driveway, and up the side road that I used to just know as 'up around the bend', there were three culverts until the floods began coming and washed them away. One year, I don't know which one, the three culverts were washed out and replaced with a cement bridge. Today, the road still bears the name but I don't suppose those under forty or so would remember why it got its name.

The little pool of wate where the three culverts used to
empt

Tonight, as I set out for an evening ride, I turned up Three Culvert Road instead of biking up the county road to Lime Ridge as I normally do.

The first thing I came to was the bridge and the little pool of water where we used to spend so much time swimming. They wrecked the 'swimming hole' when they replaced the three culverts with a bridge. It's shallow now and the sewer treatment run-off from Lime Ridge makes alge grow and no one swims in the pond anymore.

I ride my bike silently over the bridge and the memories of three culverts that were the center of the summer for a bunch of kids 50 years ago.

Along Three Culvert Road, half-way between County S
and East Harris Road.

As I ride 'up around the bin' I remember a time when the road was gravel, before it was black-toped. I remember a day I drove an old truck, 1950, 51? Studebaker pickup truck up this road with a wild bull in the back rocking the truck and two neighborhood friends beside me practically rolling with laughter as we drove the bull back to the farm up the road from where it had escaped.

A sadder day happened off to the ditch on the right where my friend August pulled loose from her leash and was killed along this road. Up ahead on the left is a grove of pine trees. This is where a house once stood where my mother and her family lived for time. I remember seeing the foundation of the house, and a barn in the little valley to the left. This is only a half a mile from the farm where my dad grew up and where I live today.

This is along East Harris Road looking west toward the
Harris School. The play ground is completely covered
in trees.

As the sun set, Three Culvert Road had ended and I turned onto East Harris Road. I approached another grove of trees that hold a forest full of memories. On the left, hidden among the trees in the photo on the right, is Harris School. That was the school that I attended until 7th grade and where my mother, father, aunts & uncles, and grandfather went to school. I believe that even my daughters went to Harris School for a while as it became a kindergarten school before finally closing.

When I left from home tonight, I didn't know how much I would be able to ride. I fell off a building the day before and my left ankle was hurting pretty bad, but as I got on the bike and began to ride, it didn't hurt so much. I hadn't gone to the doctor because I never seem to get really hurt. As I passed Harris School, I thought about Billy Kruger, the farmer that lived next to the school and how we used to get him to stop his tractor and talk to us. I remembered how Billy had shoveled the road by-hand, all the half-mile out to highway G durring a bad snowstorm when we were kids!

When I got to Lime Ridge, my ankle didn't hurt much, so I didn't turn home, but headed out for the remainder of a 12-mile ride. It was nearly dark when I finished. Sandy had slipt off to bed and I went over 900 miles for the year! 910 to be exact...