A Little Slow

Tags

Cold, Cycling, health, Medical, Rain, Riding, Sports, Weather

The weather here in the deep south has been less than perfect for bike riding for me.  The last two days it’s been a rainy, dreary day.  Today the temperature hardly rose above the mid 50’s mark.  Tomorrow is forcasted to be warmer but not until mid afternoon.  My plan is to either get a twenty mile in on Saturday or wait until Sunday when I should have more time.

My last ride broke the 100 mile mark.  That’s pretty good considering that only six months ago I was considering selling my bike because of my health.  I’m looking forward to much healther days along with miles and miles of riding.

Happy Trails

365 Day Photo Challenge 361/365 “The Aftermath”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Fatalities, Flooding, Rain, Tornadoes, Weather

Thankfully we were spared most of the damage.  We had 200 road closures throughout the state either by flooding or by the roads being washed out.  We had two tornados hit within miles of where we live and although there is still an ongoing search for some missing people, there hasn’t been any confirmed fatalities and I’m praying that they are found alive.

We’ve had two tornadoes that were in close proximities of where we live.  One in 1998 and the other in 2011.  The one in ’98 hit a town not far from us and traveled to within a mile to the left of us.  There were over 30 fatalities and hundreds of homes destroyed.  The other was in 2011 with 13 dead and again, hundreds of homes destroyed.  This one hit within a half mile to the right of us and practically destroyed the city in which I live in.  I might add that in both cases I was not at home at the time the tornadoes hit.  The first, I was in a night class not far from home.  The other, I was with my son on a band trip headed toward Orlando Florida. Both times I left my wife alone with either one kid or alone with two girls.  Either time was difficult for me to get over.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 360/365 “Wet Christmas”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Flooding, Rain, Rescue, Thunder, Tornados, Weather

I woke up to the sound of thunder this morning. As I lay in bed trying to go back to sleep I could hear the rain as it hit the damaged gutter we have out back.  It was a steady rain, not too hard but at least the weather wasn’t supposed to get bad today.  Or so I thought.

For the first time in many years I got up before the kids did.  I woke up with a headache so I went to the kitchen and grabbed some pain killer. As I walked passed the front door I noticed that the streets were wet and was still raining a good bit.

Once the kids got up we had our Christmas, had our breakfast, everyone had their showers, got dressed and out the door to the in laws.  Once we got to the in laws the rain had stopped but it was only for a short time.  As we were leaving the in laws the clouds had darkened and thunder could be heard in the distance.  We hadn’t made it home but just a few minutes when we heard the tornado sirens going off in the distance.  Seriously?  The weather radio was soon going off and downstairs we went into our safe place.

Since then it’s been nothing but wide spread flooding, roads being washed away and people being rescued.  It’s been the wettest Christmas I can ever remember.  Rain is in the forecast for the next several days.  We probably won’t dry out until sometime next year.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 358/365 “Waiting on the Storms”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Bad Weather, Storms, Tornados, Weather

As I’m writing this we are under a tornado watch.  By watching all the news and weather you would think this would be the Storm of the Century.  So far it’s been all hype, at least for our area.  I’m not complaining mind you and I do agree that the information needs to get out there for everyone to know and to prepare, but so far all we’ve gotten is some rain earlier this afternoon.

The tornado watch is expected to continue until 4 am.  I’m no meteorologist but from what I’m looking at on the radar I just don’t see anything happening, major that is.

I have my weather radio by the bed and helmets at the ready just in case we get notified of a tornado warning so we are prepared for the worst.  After two near misses you learn what to do and what not to waste your time on.  Tomorrow we’re supposed to have more bad weather but tonight is supposed to be the worst of it.

Someone I know made a comment today that I thought fitting for such weather as we are having these past few days and into the next.  “Mother Nature needs to get into the Christmas Spirit.”  Here it is the 23rd of December and we haven’t had any cold weather to speak of.  Especially for the month of December.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 293/365 “Beautiful Weather”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Botanical Gardens, Fall, Flowers, Kids In The Park, People Watching, Picnic, Seasons', Weather

This has got to be my all time favorite time of the year.  The weather has been simply gorgeous the last few days.  So much so that everyone is out enjoying the day.  While my kids were helping yesterday at the Botanical Gardens, my wife and I took the opportunity to take a walk and enjoy the park for ourselves.  There were so many people out with their kids having picnics, reading books and there were several out there with photographers getting their pictures taken.  My wife and I just sat there and took it all in and remembering the days when we used to do that with our kids.  I’m hoping that there will be many more days like this to come.

365 Day Photo Challenge 238/365 “Weather Tease”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, camping, Cold Temperatures, Photography, Seasons', Summer, Weather, Winter

The older I get the more I despise colder temperatures.  I’m extremely happy with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F.  Any colder than that I start to get cold.  I used to be able to handle temperatures in the 20’s and not even worry about wearing a jacket.  No, the jacket will come out at 60 degrees and lower.

Tomorrow, Mother Nature will tempt us with temperatures below 70 degrees in spots.  Even lower in the valley areas.  It’s still August for goodness sake.  I can remember temperatures in the 100’s way up until mid September.

I love camping in temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s though.  Just as long as I don’t have to get out of my warm sleeping bag.  During the day I can’t walk because of the amount of clothes I have on trying to stay warm.  Just be prepared, I really don’t like winter and I despise being cold.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 237/365 “I Did as Promised”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Bike Ride, Cycling, Dogs, Obligations, Photography, Rain, Weather, Windy

I stated yesterday that come Hell or high water I was going to ride today. When I woke up it was storming here.  At first I believed that the ride wouldn’t happen.  But, as fate would have it, the skies cleared after lunch and I was able to get a little over 22 miles in.  This coming week the weather looks good for riding each day.  I know Friday evening is out due to a football game and Saturday morning is out due to having to take one of my daughters to a music class.

It really felt good to get out on the bicycle today.  It was a bit windy and I had a headwind for most of my ride.  I had several dogs that tried to attack me today and I have yet to understand why people allow their dogs to run loose in a community where there is a leash law.  I’m just wondering if one of these dogs cause me to have a wreck and it causes me bodily injury who is going to be responsible for my medical bills?  I would think it would be the dog owner but with today’s laws who knows?

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 150/365 “Day 1”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cancer, Cycling, Mileage, Weather

Day 1 is in the books with 26 miles down. With storm clouds overhead and the sound of thunder off in the distance I was certain I would be soaked before the ride was complete. Fortunately, the ride was completed with the storm going around me.

I got an early start today because my wife had a eye doctor appointment so she wasn’t home to have supper ready when I got home.  She’s a school teacher and she’s out for the summer.

I rode 25 miles yesterday and 26 miles today.  I just hope my legs can keep up.  My plans are to ride the same loop I did today except tomorrow and Friday.  Tomorrow I’m going to a state park and riding a 24 mile loop and Friday I will be traveling to Dothan, Alabama to ride in a 41 mile ride on Saturday.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 149/365 “The Great Cycle Challenge”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, 500 Miles, Alabama, Cancer, Cycling, Rain, The Great Cycle Challenge, Weather

Tomorrow, June 1st, will be the start of my 500 mile challenge.  With an average of a little less than 17 miles a day, it will indeed be a challenge.  I do average more than 16 miles every time I go riding but I don’t go riding every day.  I also would like to make my goal of $1000 but I think I would make the 500 miles before I make the $1000.

Today was a good day.  I was able to get a 25 mile ride in.  It started out sunshine, then rain then sunshine again.  Typical Alabama weather. With tomorrow being 60% chance of rain I think we will get a decent amount.  We shall see.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/TimHughes

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 146/365 “Flooding in the Ham”

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cycling, Flood, Graduation, Photography, Rain, Rescue, Seniors, Weather

Another rainy day in Birmingham today. Had several areas in town had a little problem with flooding.  Nothing like out in Texas though. With all this rain today that meant that I didn’t get to ride any.  Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.

My twin daughters will be going into the 12th grade next year and they had their pictures done yesterday.  My wife was able to take them to their session.  There were several other seniors there at the same time along with their mom’s.  The wife told me last night that most of the other mom’s couldn’t handle the thought of their kids graduating and broke down and sobbed like babies.  My girls were glad that their mom held it together.  I for one am not looking forward to them being seniors but I’ve accepted the fact that there is nothing I can do about it.  They’re growing up on me.

“Life Goes On!”