Rana July 26th, 2008
Well, the Tour de France ends tomorrow. (I’m pulling for Cadel Evans from Australia.) And I’m glad to say that telling myself, “Come on, nothing you’re doing hurts that much,” has gotten my distances back up to where I know I’m making progress.
This is day 81 since we started this blog, by my count, and I’m at 2523.6. Overall, toward my 10,000 mile goal, I’m at 5184. That’s actually a little behind where I need to be, but by less than 200 miles, so I’m still feeling good about it.
In the last 12 days I’ve ridden 400 miles, which is 33 miles a day — dead on for what you’d need for an easy 12,000 a year (which I’m actually thinking will be next year’s goal.)
I’ve only been out twice on the road bike in the last couple of weeks. It’s just been too danged hot and R. is too erratic in the evenings. Afternoons are going to be much easier for me come fall. But this last ride, night before last, was just fantastic. In part it was because I’ve finally gotten a handle on keeping the bike’s high pressure tires inflated properly, but I also felt powerful. I’ve been riding at levels 12-14 on the exercise bike (of 16), which is a conscious decision to work harder and I can feel the difference in my legs.
The other area of improvement was confidence in steering. None of those little awful frissons of adrenaline. I was pedaling along at 16 mph+, which is a much better clip than I’ve done before, which means I’m starting to get over my apprehension about speed. (I think I was making the Wookie crazy being a granny slow rider.)
Rana July 16th, 2008
Well, now that we’ve decided to break out of our role playing and just encourage one another, I do have a few thoughts that have been rolling around in my head. First, I just realized I managed to ride the distance of the first movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which, in true nerd fashion, I find pretty darn cool.
Second, I am finding a great deal of inspiration in the Tour de France, much the same way I did when I was cheering Ali on to win Biggest Loser. I know I’ll never ride at the level these guys have attained, but I now have a real appreciation for what they’re doing.
My riding fell off last month by 200 miles for no good reason and I’m determined to get my distances back up to 30+ miles a day. I still haven’t reached all my physical goals — burning off the belly fat (which is much better!) and bringing my hips and thighs down another inch at minimum. (I want to achieve that inch before we make our Little Town visit for my Mother’s birthday.)
So, to that end, I’m happy to report:
7/12 - 28 miles
7/13 - 30.2 miles
7/14 - 30.2 miles
7/15 - 32 miles
7/16 - 31 miles
Including what I’ve done today, I’m at 2200.6 since we started this blog, and I’ve done 4861 toward my goal of 10,000 miles in one year.
I haven’t been out on my road bike in 11 days. After R. tried to get up out of her chair while I was gone, I figured I’d better slack off for awhile. It was nothing but a passive aggressive protest about my absence. I’ll be really glad when the weather cools off enough that I can go out at 2 or 3 in the afternoon while she’s occupied with the paper. I’m rarely gone an hour, but she doesn’t like that in the evening.
Rana July 13th, 2008
Day: Day 51 thru Mid-Day 68
Miles: 435.5
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 458
Miles in Lothlorien: 59
Miles to Rauros: 389
Miles in Rauros: 138.8
Total Miles: 2100.4 miles
I have been camped on the lawn of Parth Galen below Amon Hen for several days now, riding in the area, resting, and planning the next leg of my journey in this Tour de Middle Earth. Next I will retrace Merry and Pippin’s path to Isengard, a leg of 355 miles. I’ll set out in the morning for some of the most isolated territory I have as yet traveled. The weather has turned hot, but I press on, longing for the cool breezes of autumn.
Erin July 12th, 2008
Day 67: 8.5 miles (I have NO idea if I have the right day!)
Total: 125 miles
Location: Past former boundary of Cardolan
My riding schedule was beset by travels, house guests, and overtime; however, I did get to ride a little this week, and now I am two miles past the boundary of Cardolan.
So… my question is… does the fellowship still continue, or would it be more practical to go back to our solitary schedule of bike rides going nowhere? I’m fine either way… I know my participation goes at a snail’s pace, at best.
Let me know what y’all are doing? I don’t want to be updating solo! :-)
Rana June 26th, 2008
Day: Afternoon Day 48 thru Day 51
Miles: 92.3
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 458
Miles in Lothlorien: 59
Miles to Rauros:92.3
Total Miles: 1664.9 miles
Okay, if I could read a map this would probably be easier. I was getting completely ahead of myself and almost forgot that I have to get to the point where the Fellowship was broken before my decision to take off after Aragon or Pippin and Merry. (Thanks to the nice elf at the map store who set me right.)
I wound up leaving Lothlorien the afternoon of Day 48 and greatly enjoyed the ride, which is along the river, a course that lasted at least 90 miles. Tonight I’m camped at the point of their third day out from the elvish city, just where the trees are starting to thin and the Brown Lands are visible in the distance. I have about 10.7 miles tomorrow to actually finish up the total distance for that day, which will carry me to the flats north of the Field of Celebrant.
On the fourth day out they covered 60 miles, which I expect will take me part of at least two days depending on the weather.
Erin June 25th, 2008
Day 50: 8.5 miles (I think this is the right day number…)
Total: 116.5 miles
Location: Nearing the gap
We were beset by visitors from Gondor last week, and I did not get much riding done. However, this week, I am back on my steed when possible. I rode 3.5 miles earlier this week, and tonight I rode another five.
We passed beyond the place where Frodo sang (and read the memorial plaque), and have made camp a mile and a half down the road, where we can barely see the gap to the north. Perhaps in a few more days, Tag, Sara and I will make it to the Prancing Pony. :-)
Rana June 23rd, 2008
Day: Day 46 thru Morning of Day 48
Miles: 69.5
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 458
Miles in Lothlorien: 59
Total Miles: 1572.6
I reached Lothlorien on Day 46 of my travels in Middle Earth. I’ve spent the last two days exploring the tree city and trying to embrace the idea of narrow, elevated bike paths. Especially on my new steed, Amarillo, I feel I’m going to plunge off the side and plummet to the ground at any second. Still, the views here are breathtaking and the people friendly, in that aloof, eleven way of theirs.
I am now on the horns of a dilemma about the next leg of my journey. Will I take Merry and Pippin’s Path to Isengard (355 miles) or Aragorn’s (470)? In the meantime, I’m re-provisioning, having my tent re-conditioned, and studying the maps. I hope to reach a decision by tomorrow and set out once again. Having become accustomed to forward progress, staying in one place doesn’t feel right.
Rana June 20th, 2008
Day: Afternoon Day 40 - Day 45
Miles: 159.2
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 439.5
Total Miles: 1503.1
Tonight I camp 18.5 miles from Lothlorien. It has been a long and solitary trek including the forbidding darkness of the biking trail that leads through the mines of Moria. I saw neither Orcs nor a Balrog and my way was well lighted and marked by historical panels explaining the glories of Balin’s reign, the fierce flight of the Fellowship, and the metallurgical properties of Mithral. I haven’t posted because there was no connection to the Net deep within the mines. By the second night, I was half imagining I could hear Gollum in the dark corners of the great cavernous rooms in which I pitched my tent. Now, however, I am once again near the lands of my ancestors and tomorrow I will see the city of Celeborn and Galadriel. Tonight, I sleep beneath a clear sky, exhausted, but elated from a five mile ride at sunset on my new steed, Amarillo.
Erin June 16th, 2008
Day 41: 20 miles (posted for the past several days)
Total: 108 miles
Location: Barrow-Downs
It has been a hectic last few days with no time to journal. I have done many miles with rest stops in between, mostly with the ranger by my side. We blew past Tom Bombadil’s house and stopped for tea, but we got out of their fairly quickly. Now we are camped in the Barrow-Downs, but we have yet to see any Wights. However, Tag is standing guard whilst we sleep.
Rana June 15th, 2008
Day: Day 36 thru Morning of Day 40
Miles: 150.8
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Loth Lorien: 280.3
Total Miles: 1343.9
It’s 458 miles from Rivendell to Lothlorien. I’ve ridden 280.3 of them. I’m currently four miles from the opening of the Fellowship’s January 11 progress. I’ve travelled through rolling lands, crossing small streams and traversing valleys. The weather has grown warm and sunny — on some days too warm and too sunny. I am once again climbing and am almost to the feet of the Redhorn with the treacherous Redhorn Poass ahead of me. Thank God it’s summer and I won’t face the snow and blasting winds they endured.
I am testing a new steed, Amarillo, in the evening hours, trying to get used to her slim frame and more nimble movements. The Ranger and Erin caught an eagle on the day she arrived and had it not been for the Ranger’s steady hand and Erin minding the Eye of Are, I would most surely have been thrown and spent the remainder of the evening dealing with recriminations from the elderly wizard. With modifications to the saddle and saddle post, Amarillo and I are getting on better, although I am not yet ready to take her out on a long excursion. But I am pleased with the strength of my legs, I am making improvement, and I suspect when cooler weather finally comes on, I will range far astride this new wheeled companion.