The moon was beautiful and full on my morning ride to work the other day. The sunrise behind me, the moon in front of me. Cranes, ducks and swans flying overhead, going south for the winter. The leaves are starting to turn. Streams filled with salmon, spawning finished, wasting away. Fireweed gone to seed. Summer's end. 
My daughter and her fiancee were her for the last 10 days visiting from Montana. They left this morning so I feel sad again. It sure was great having them around. We had a good time, they got to visit with all their friends, go to the state fair, hiking, an evening 4-wheeler ride to the river and bonfire. The time went too fast, I could only get 2 days off work to spend with them, plus the weekends. My daughter really wants to move back, Nathan likes Montana (darn).
The weather has been nice, it is getting nippy during the nights and my morning commute has been pretty chilly. It sure is harder work and slower to ride when I am frozen. So I ordered some fleece tights and warmer gloves. I have a wool jersey on order. 40's in the mornings, mid 60's in the evenings. I pack extra riding clothing for the ride home. My pannier get pretty full some days.
Darkness comes along with the cooler weather. I put my lights on my bike. Last year I was able to ride to the end of September before it got too dark. I have a new light this year, maybe I will be able to ride longer. Maybe not though, it depends when the ground starts frosting and icing up and things get slick. Summer's end...winter begins.
7 comments:
It sure is a short season for biking up your way.
RYN about being the neighborhood bike mechanic. I am lucky enough to have a neighbor, who is in his 20's, that does some wrenching too. We fixed the tire and the brakes as a team.
Well, it's not the end of cycling season, just the beginning of winter cycling. I can't keep commuting to work though because the snow is plowed onto the sides of the streets and sidewalks. Where I live, they don't plow off the bike paths and sidewalks. I will NOT ride on the road in the winter, that would be insane. Nice for you and your neighbor to take care of the kid's bike. Maybe you should park your lawnmower in the kid's yard with a nice note of I fix your bike, you mow my lawn :)
Sounds like you had a nice time with your daughter. Someday I'm going to be sorry about complaining about what my kids do/don't do around the house..and I'll miss them. Right now isn't that time though (heading to the fridge for a beer!).
We were paddling the river by our house today and I commented that it was felt like fall was coming. A little color in the trees, a few flocks of geese hanging around. But all the while I had my feet in the warm water, wearing surf shorts and drinking water to keep hydrated in the sun!
Now that I read your blog, I guess I had better get back to enjoying my "end" of summer! :^)
Oh yeah, enjoy it while you have it! Everyday, the sun has less heat to it and the air has a bit more chill. But fall is another beautiful season here in alaska. It just goes too fast.
Fall is the best here in West MI. If only we could have that single season all year . . .
Enjoy yours!
I always like best the season that's coming up next. Although we've only had Atlanta heat for a few weeks, it was enough that I'm ready for Fall.
My daughter will be around for a couple more years before she leaves the house. Your note is a reminder I need to enjoy her company while I still have it.
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