THE STROLL.

Clouds, thin wispy ones, scattered puffy ones, vast curtains of gray, tinged with the faint orange of the approaching day, covered the sky as Sandy and I headed out this morning. Though the weather service proclaimed it “fair,” and there were apparent gaps in the clouds, we saw no stars or planets through the gaps. We did see the orange glow of what I took to be the approaching sun, but what could just as likely have been the streetlights of downtown Utica, reflecting off the bottom of the clouds on the eastern horizon. To the north the clouds reflected back a deep indigo shade, which faded to aquamarine as my gaze turned east, and deepened to blue-black as I turned toward the western horizon. Sandy and I had walked a long way as all this was being observed by me, with my “head in the clouds,” and she, with her nose to the ground, snuffing at the recycling containers for the hint of a dropped pizza crust or a dollop of marinara sauce: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” Never know when a bit of Thoreau may pop up…

Good morning everyone.

THE ROLL.

It’s Thursday, two weeks to RFMC Eve, and we have a ride to take. So let’s get right to it.

RIDE WEATHER: Sunny and mild. High 73F. Winds NW – NNW at 10, dropping to 7.

TIME, TEMP, DP, RH, SKY, WIND:

6:00 pm; 73 °F; 49 °F; 42%; Mostly Sunny; 10 mph NW
7:00 pm; 70 °F; 48 °F; 45%; Sunny; 8 mph NNW
8:00 pm; 67 °F; 44 °F; 43%; Sunny; 7 mph NNW

UNIFORM OF THE DAY: Moisture managing light-weight, late spring, kit.

ON TOP: A wicking base, short or long sleeved, under your bike jersey as the outer layer. If you opt for short sleeves and tend to get a bit cool as temps dip below 70, you may want your arm warmers. You may also want a bandana (du rag), beanie or cap AND standard half-fingered bike gloves to complete the ensemble. Decorative nail polish is optional.

BELOW THE WAIST: I’d go with bike shorts or 3/4 length (Capri’s) bottoms. You’ll also want your light-weight wool or synthetic socks.

AS ALWAYS: Have your RoadID, shades, sunblock, lip balm and a snack or two; two water bottles — one full with water; one with some sports drink — or more water if you’re bringing energy chews or “bloks” as snacks.

DON’T FORGET YOUR MEDS: If you use an inhaler or epi-pen, please have them with you. You may want to let one of our ERT’s know you have them aboard.

DON’T FORGET YOUR HELMET…IT’S A MUST!

— AND — THIS BEING AN EVENING RIDE —

LIGHTS – FORE AND AFT.

WE’LL BE ON QUIET COUNTRY ROADS, WITH LONG SHADOWS, AND THE SETTING SUN LOW ON THE HORIZON AS WE ROLL BACK TO WHS; LET THE MOTORISTS SEE YOU.

Please have a spare inner tube, some tire levers and a means to inflate the tube should you need to use it. Remember to stop off your tires before arriving — check the sidewall but most of you will be looking for somewhere around 100 – 120 PSI. If you’re not sure about this part; please bring your pump in the car with you.

REMEMBER: Sag space is limited. So plan for items you can wear or stuff easily in your saddlebag or pockets.

Please arrive at WHITESBORO HIGH SCHOOL 6000 NY-291, Marcy, NY 13403 BY 5:30PM (1730).

WE ROLL AT 6PM (1800).

THE THOREAU.

As you all know by now; it’s THOREAUBACK THURSDAY… DAy…Day…day.

Though bicycles were not available, and a seldom seen novelty, throughout his lifetime; Henry loved to climb — Perhaps THAT’S where I get it from.

Since I began MY day with my head in the clouds; I thought we’d spend a few minutes with Henry, high atop Mt. Greylock, in Western Massachusetts, as he wakes up to his first morning on the summit.

Enjoy your Thursday gang. See you at WHS this evening!

“All around beneath me was spread for a hundred miles on every side, as far as the eye could reach, an undulating country of clouds, answering in the varied swell of its surface to the terrestrial world it veiled. It was such a country as we might see in dreams, with all the delights of paradise…The earth beneath had become such a flitting thing of lights and shadows as the clouds had been before. It was not merely veiled to me, but it had passed away like the phantom of a shadow,… and this new platform was gained. As I had climbed above storm and cloud, so by successive days journeys I might reach the region of eternal day, beyond the tapering shadow of the earth….”

– HD Thoreau
from A WEEK ON THE CONCORD AND MERRIMACK RIVERS.

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