Just returned from a two week vacation in Key West. The weather was a perfect 78 degrees the entire time we were there with light and variable winds.  I rented a road bike from Eaton bike shop.  It is the best place for bike rentals in the keys.  The owners and workers are very knowledgeable about bikes and biking routes around the keys.  Rode over 250 miles in my time in the keys.  A great time to bike in mid winter.  On another note, I have a huge respect for friend Fred.  As a novice biker he and I rode from Key Largo to Key west twice.  It hadn't occurred to me before because I had ridden miles and miles in heavy traffic.  But, I haven't ridden in traffic in over a year.  County roads and state highways were the riding areas for my trips.  My first encounter with all the traffic and it took a while to get used to all the attention needed to ride safely in those conditions.  Then and there the realization that those conditions existed in Fred's world when he and I rode enhanced my respect for what he accomplished. The last day of my daily rides was a 55 miler from Marathon Key to Key West, Florida. I would like to dedicate it to good friend Fred Hampton. He and I rode this distance twice. Fred is no longer with us in person but his spirit always will be. I would also like to dedicate the first 7 miles to biking friend Mike Sorn. Mike is legendary for his affinity for bridges. Ha, ha. This distance is on a two lane bridge with a relatively narrow shoulder, short restraining barrier and nothing on the right except the Gulf of Mexico and nothing on the left except cars with people who are in a hurry to get off the bridge. Just so my biking friends don't freak out Fred and I, obviously, wore biking helmets but took them off for the picture.  All in all an excellent two weeks biking in the Florida Key.

 

 Good news.   Traveling to Key West where I will be biking every day for two weeks. Really looking forward to riding a bicycle someplace other that on my trainer in my basement. Unfortunately we are flying Southwest and hopefully we won't have a cancellation.  Rolling the dice. On another note, had a great Christmas with the family.  The highlight was when little 4 year old Ruthie preformed two song from frozen.  She had the Elsa dress complete with and knew all the words from her two songs she preformed.  Wonderful child.  Love her to bits.  Next posts will be from Key West.

 

 

 

 

Not necessarily a post about biking but I thought I would share anyway.  The day following

Thanksgiving with my family in attendance the neighbor decided to burn leaves.  Unfortunately it is still legal in our community.  Hard to believe in this day and age knowing the downside of open burning and the benefits of mulching, this practice still continues.  In our community one can open burn but there are stipulations.  No burning within 20 feet of any structure and the fire must be visible. This helps insure the fire is not smoldering.  As one can see from these images both of the regulations are being violated.  Aside from these obvious violations who does this to a neighbor?  It is not only rude but extremely disrespectful.  No house is airtight and even though the windows are closed and locked down, smell and some smoke will still enter.  The three year old couldn't get her afternoon nap even with a 103 temp.  And the daughter-in-law was having throat problems from the smoke.  Cops were called and the neighbor had to put out the fire.  I suspect he will do so again next year.  Just thought I would share

 

All indoor biking.  Took time to travel to Galena but biking has dropped off.  Back on regular schedule at least until Christmas.  Then, our yearly Florida trip begins.  Need to get my rental before long but they know me well enough the Eaton Bike shop will take care of me.  Until then, not much going on on the biking front.   Ha

 Outdoor biking finished for the foreseeable future.  20's and 30's predicted for the next two weeks.  So, it's back to the trainer in the basement.  The good news is I was able to do a long 50 miler prior to the recent bout of cold weather.  I also was off the bike for 4 days due to watching the beautiful granddaughter while the kids took a brief vacation to themselves.  We grand parented her for three days.  The weather was frigid and we had a three inch snow fall on one of those days.  Ruthie and I were able to make a small snowman. Picture to follow.  Looking forward to an occasional bike ride in the future but nothing yet.  Later

Weather changing rapidly.  It went from mid 80s down to 30's.  We got a reprieve the last two days and rain is forecast the next two days.  Knowing this I rode what I think is going to be my last outside distance ride of the season.  A 50 miler to Spring Valley was my ride yesterday.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtually uneventful until I got about 5 miles from my destination.  At a cross road between Route 89 and route 71 is a four way stop.  Carefully checking the cross traffic and seeing no vehicles, I rode through the stop as is per usual for bikers.  Heading in the opposite direction a individual in a truck yelled "hey, that was a stop sign" implying I should have come to a complete stop even though there was no cross traffic.  I responded with something to the effect that "mind your own business, or something like that.  Ha.  Riding conditions were particularly busy primarily because farmers a taking their crop to grain elevators.  Therefore, I was dodging semis, and large slow tractors in addition to regular Saturday traffic.  But all in all, a great day for riding a bicycle in the great outdoors.

 Outside riding the last 5 days.  Total distance was over 200 miles.  Great weather....dry and not very windy.  Many in the area are complaining about lack of rain.  Ha, look for the good.  Great bicycling weather.  On a down note, within the last two weeks and twice last week, oncoming traffic has witnessed a driver passing another driver while I'm in the road.  If not for me taking evasive action it would have been disastrous. I will now purchase a front light to warn the idiots of their error and hopefully they will not intentionally pass with me in the road.  Time will tell.  Couldn't help post the above pic.  Not cycling associated but worthy, nevertheless.  Stay tuned.