Coffee and hummingbirds…

One of the joys of rural living is nature right at your doorstep. Yes, the area around my home is landscaped; plants, including non-native species, were long ago planted here, but I am treated to a vista of natural colors when I gaze out my door or my window, or even better, sit on my porch to enjoy a meal or even just a cup of coffee. So too, there is wildlife here that we are not used to seeing in urban environments. Songbirds & raptors abound. Lizards periodically will enter into our living space and realizing their error, will quickly turn and flee. Deer are a constant presence, both day and night, though the local population learned quickly to stay out of our yard, given our large canine, who would happily give chase and quite possibly take one down, faun or adult.

Mornings this time of year are my favorite. The heat by mid to later afternoon can be oppressive, but the cool of the morning is welcoming. Pretty much daily this is where I breakfast.

There is a rich population of hummingbirds here, and my first tour of the week is making a supply of hummingbird food and filling the feeder that I hung here on the porch. It's amazingly simple and Rich in reward. for parts water to one part granulated sugar boiled for a few minutes and then allowed to cool. I add a tablespoon of cherry syrup to it to give a light red color that seems particularly effective in attracting them. Throughout their life hours on into the evening past dusk, I am treated to the display of these tiny avian visitors. They are territorial little creatures, frequently divebombing each other at the theater, unconcerned by the human presence just feet away. It's not unusual to have one of them come & check out what's on the table as we're sitting here. They're clear, as we are, that even if we were so inclined, we're not fast enough to catch them.

Enough navel gazing; time to get on with my day.

Somewhat disappointing…

Last week after almost two weeks away from the gym I had an emotional recommitment. I promised myself this wasn't going to continue, that no matter what's going on in my life, I still need to get to the gym.

Recently, I took my mountain bike in for a tuneup so I could start riding again. I'm not mountain biking; I use it as a road bike. Why a mountain bike? Short answer: my weight. These bikes are built to withstand some serious G Force abuse. Run or jump, your heel hits the ground with 3G forces, so take your weight and multiply it by three – that's how many pounds of force hits the ground. Mountain bikes are meant to be able to take the weight of the rider jumping over things and landing on the wheels. I figured if a 200 pound rider jumping over boulders landing with 600 pounds of pressure could be withstood by the bike's frame and wheels, then my 265 pounds just going down the road should be no issue. At my absolute heaviest, back in the early 90s, I had a bicycle wheel fold and warp under my weight. Granted, there were 170 some odd pounds more of me then, but having a bicycle folder under my weight is something I never wish to experience ever again.

The gym is only 4 miles from here, but it's almost all uphill. Funny how you never really notice the incline whilst driving. It's a whole other story when you're on the bicycle. At the height of the heat early last week I set out for the gym on the bike, & only made it halfway up the hill to the housing development roughly 2/3 of the way there. I may be foolish at times (Like riding your bicycle uphill in 100 degree heat, on your first day out), but I'm not suicidal. Halfway up the hill I decided it was too much of a climb, & I turned around and rode back. I decided to try the journey to the gym again today & this time I made it to the housing subdivision, we're deciding I'd had enough. I actually had to get off the bike, and walk up the hill when it got really steep. Now I ran a 5K at the gym yesterday, so I don't feel too bad about not making it there successfully today. I will drive over tomorrow morning to get in that run. Current goal is to do that at least every other day & every time there to run at least 5K on the elliptical.

I guess what's disappointing to me right now is realizing just how much of a challenge the bike is going to be. Once upon a time I was a bicycle commuter in New York City, while I was in medical school. I averaged about 60 miles a week at the time. I was also in my early 20s and not my early 60s. (Cue reality testing) there was indeed a time when that hill would have constituted no insurmountable challenge. There was a six city block segment in Northwestern Brooklyn that was every bit as steep, on my commute between Brooklyn and Manhattan back then. I actually used to look forward to that segment. Towards the end of it my quads would be bulging and burning, looking strikingly muscular in a pair of bike shorts. Again, that was 40 years ago and I am no longer that 20 something.

No matter. I am working on body reclamation & not becoming a body beautiful. The true goal is better health, longer life, better mobility and agility, and being truly happy with in my own skin.