Blue Bike has taken a break. Well, truly, I have. I've been off the bike for a bit so I'm considering putting her on the stand I have and riding her that way. The problem is that I don't enjoy that method of riding but it may be better for me to force myself to do it.
Winters are cold and heating up where the bike is takes a lot of time. We'll see what happens.
Onward!
Hello everyone!
The temperature was good today so I finally got back on the bike. It felt good to go riding again. Though I admit that it is a little scary at times because I'm always afraid I'm going to fall off. And at my age, that's going to cause a lot of damage.
Here's a picture of my approach to a smaller bridge on my way back to the car:
I discovered that the app I use to track my trips allows me to 'play' it so here's a screen recording of my trip:
5 miles today puts me deep into Woody End. I'm 31% of the way through the Shire. I need to get in a lot more miles before it becomes too cold to ride.
Hi all! I owe you a post for finishing the Paris challenge on time but finishing the school year and getting ready to take a college class and be in the college class have kept me busy. This week I'm in Ohio taking a class on American Foreign Policy. Yes, teachers still take classes even after they've earned their degrees. The Blue Bike did not join me on this trip (I don't trust the bike rack on my car for the 7 hour drive it took to get to campus) so I decided to track my walking to and from the dorm to class and to meals. I forgot to track my walking on Sunday but over the past 2 days, I've walked 4.31 miles this week!
I'm sharing a map of one of my trips across campus this week. The GPS looks a little wonky but it does show going from one side of campus to the other.
As of this evening, I'm almost 20% of the way through the Shire. And I'm ahead of the suggested pace for the time goal that I set.
Here's the postcard that came today:
Stretching from Three Farthing Stone in the centre of the Shire all the way down to its southernmost border, this warmer region is renowned for its lush fields and crops.
Frodo and Sam travel cross-country, as advised by Gandalf, in order to reach Bree. Although still in the Shire, this is an important milestone for Sam, being the farthest away from home he’s ever travelled.
Today's ride was a long one. It took me over the big bridge for the 1st time this season. I need to get a picture the next time to share with you. Here are the stats from the ride. Decent temps outside which helped make the long ride possible.
And the first postcard!
This Evil cannot remain in the Shire, Frodo must leave cosy Bag End and travel to Bree.
There, Gandalf will meet him once more, after he has spoken with the head of his order, Saruman.
Until next time! Maybe tomorrow?!
Big ride today. Longest of the season so far.
As I headed for the northeast arrondissements, I found the most delightful green corridor called Coulée Verte René-Dumont. This 2.8mi (4.5km) long park was created on a former railway viaduct that was used by freight trains. It is the longest and only elevated park in Europe. It is a wonderful pathway dotted with benches bordered by small trees, shrubs, and plants, including roses, lavender, and wisteria.
Descending from the pathway into a large public park, I continued to Place de la Nation. This small park was infamous for the most active guillotines during the French Revolution. Today, it is often used as a starting point for demonstrations. The centre of it is dominated by a large bronze sculpture called 'Triomphe de la République' and is surrounded by flower beds.
I had a lovely stroll through La Campagne à Paris, a housing development founded in 1907 for working-class families. Built on a quarry site, it consists of 92 townhouses with front and rear gardens, a luxury back in those days. It is a pretty location that feels like the countryside, peaceful and serene.
The highlight of this walk is Montmartre, a large hill in the 18th arrondissement. The landmark Sacré-Cœur Basilica sits proudly atop Butte Hill. Accessible via a funicular or on foot, it is visible from many parts of the city. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is an important place of worship.
Prominent landmarks are magnificent and full of history, but it's the small places that intrigue me, such as the Clos Montmartre, the last extant vineyard in Paris. Founded in the 12th century, it is owned by the city and today has 30 different types of vines. The annual harvest is celebrated each October with a festival. The wine is then auctioned off, and the proceeds are donated to Montmartre Association.
Winding through the narrow streets, I came across Le Passe, a sculpture of a man stuck in a wall. It is apparently based on a French novel where the character with 'walking through walls' abilities loses his power mid-pass and is eternally frozen in the wall.
Inside a nearby garden square is Les Mus de Je T'aime (the Wall of Love). It comprises 612 tiles with the phrase I Love You written in 250 languages.
Enjoying my strolls through residential streets, I sought out another gorgeous place, Vla Leandre. Inspired by English art-deco architecture, the leafy cobblestone street is lined with townhouses. Before its development, the area was filled with vineyards, rolling hills, and windmills.
Talking about windmills, of the dozen or so that dotted the hill, two survive today, with Moulin de la Galette operating as a restaurant. Of course, many would be familiar with the artificial windmill atop the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret theatre that is described as "the temple of the French cancan". A not to be missed show, this looks like a fun place to stop and take in the entertainment.
Started a longer challenge today. Oy. Vey. What did I sign myself up for?!
The Shire is the first of a series of 5 challenges. I may not make it through the other ones but I won't get anywhere if I don't try. This challenge is the longest one I've ever signed up for. The LOTR challenges are different than the other ones because you can't do them simultaneously. You must finish each medal separately before you can do the next one.
5 miles today means I'm 3% of the way long the journey through the Shire.
It's been a bit since I've been on the bike. Work and weather are my excuses. Not good ones but the ones I'm claiming.
61% of the way along! I need to find more times to ride this next week because I really do want to complete this Paris challenge by the end of the month. The weather should cooperate but the temps in the afternoon / evening may not.
But the coolest thing along the bike ride today was seeing the following:
4 live armadillos! So cool! I only saw them because there were a couple ladies stopped along the trail and as I rode by one of them said "armadillos" and I had to stop. It's considered a lucky thing to see them alive. They are adorable in an ugly sort of way.
