Pandemic Peddling

I am fortunate to live in an area that offers beautiful spring road riding. Due to the pandemic, there are few cars on the road and the world seems incredibly still. Last week the fruit orchards were in full bloom in the Hood River Valley and the Eastside Loop was spectacular. My favorite time of year to be cycling.

This week, a change of scenery on the Petersburg Loop from The Dalles, Oregon. This ride started from a charming historic one-room schoolhouse and evolved into amazing sights, including; wild turkeys, a lone deer running along a ridge, picturesque creeks, and wide open spaces for farming, vineyards, and ranches.

Although I am finding joy on the roads, there has been a controversy in my household recently. Due to COVID-19 precautions, our local trails are closed to hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. Access points for the river are also off limits, disallowing kiteboarders and windsurfers to practice their sports. We all cope with stress in different ways, and have historically found tremendous relief in our respective recreational opportunities. The roads and golf courses remain open, and this has created an odd dynamic in our divided mountain biking/road riding household ecosystem.

Regardless of the many uncertainties (or maybe because of them), I am still working toward my 2020 goal…2020 combined bike and run miles. I have accumulated 426.5 miles, only 1593.5 to go! Not too bad considering the baking and couch hiatus that I seem to have turned to in the last month. I discovered many rhubarb-inspired delicacies (side note…Google Lemon Rhubarb Olive Oil Cake & Rhubarb Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipes). I also realized that my couch is uncomfortable and it is probably time to get a new one. I digress. It is time to kick it into gear. Who knows what this tri season will bring, but I feel like a cloud is lifted each time I run out my door or snap into my peddles. There is no doubt, moving and being outside does the mind and the body good.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Be grateful for nature and the hope that spring brings.
2. Go to the grocery store early in the day if you need flour.
3. Get off the couch and go outside.