Useless Ride stats 3/29

Total Miles: 20.38
Time Taken: 1:14
Average Speed: 16.43mph
Top Speed: 25mph
Close Calls: 0
Railroad tracks crossed: 2
Freeways Crossed: 1 (twice)

Ride started out cold this morning, but once my fingers and ears went numb (few miles in), things were cranking. Rode south from my house along the canal until pavement ended and continued another few miles alon Lindsay. I must say, I love riding Lindsay. The road that is. The bike lanes are usually debris free & in good condition, and traffic is usually light. I wish all roads the the east valley could be like Lindsay. I was hoping for a longer ride this morning, but one road that didn't go through caused me to turn and therefore shorten my ride. I need to start riding longer rides since my Gila Bend ride is coming up in September.

Music to my Ears

Yesterday afternoon, I just arrived home from a few days in San Diego, when my son says "Hey Dad, wanna ride bikes?" Keep in mind that I had just driven 6 hours and my butt is tired. Typically in the late afternoon, the kids ride their bikes out front under our supervision. I helped Matthew get his bike out as he put his helmet on and started to get the lawn chair. "No Dad, you need your bike", my son calls out, I goy out my bike (& helmet) and we rode up and down the street having a blast. "Let's go around the block now", he says. OK, off we go. We rode up to the trail under the power lines and back home for dinner just as Emma was coming out. We rode a few more minutes with Emma and finally had our pizza dinner. (Fridays are turning into "pizza night"). As we're putting the bikes away, Matthew turns to me and says "I like riding bikes with you, Dad". A more emotional me would have broken down on the spot. Instead I said " I like riding bikes with you too pal", and smiled in hearing such a beautiful thing from my son.

The Clap

I have often wondered, sometimes aloud "why do we clap"? When we approve of something, or are happy, excited, or whatever, why is it that banging our hands together is the way we show approval? I guess there are worse ways to demonstrate (monkeys throwing poo comes to mind). I've seen all three of my children as babies clap their hands in excitement at a toy and wondered it each time I saw it. Is it something in our genes? Clearly, as babies we're not "taught" to clap our hands, it just happens.

I saw an article on MSN the other day: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/bigger-picture/articlees.aspx?cp-documentid=17989390&GT1=32001. It is about the silent histor of clapping. I couldn't click on the link fast enough. Maybe, just maybe, this article will shed some light. Nope, not really. Just a few theories. If anyone has the answer, I'd love to hear it.

I'm in California!

Tonight, I finally made it to California in my virtual cross country tour. I'm still in Eastern California, but at least I'm here (virtually speaking, of course). I'm planning to ride to San Diego and maybe up the coast to Washington or down to Mexico. I'm still not sure.

A friend of mine put the bug in my ear to maybe someday California. I'll have to wait and see how my Gila Bend ride goes this fall.