Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble.

I am very behind in blogging; it doesn't take long.  One day  missed, then two, then it becomes a race against time and memory.  Yes, I did say memory.  If the day isn't recorded almost immediately, the events begin to blur, and details fall off the grid.  Part of this may be due to age (ahem..no comment), but a large contributor of this memory glitch is what we riders call 'the biking bubble'.

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble." 

The biking bubble is being out of touch and out of synch with the rest of the world.  We listen to the news only to get the weather report; which way the wind is going to blow becomes bigger than who is shooting who in the Middle East.  It is a complete disconnect with the rest of the world.  I actually had to ask someone via email last week what day it was.  I was pretty sure it was Friday; it was Tuesday. 

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble."

Another phenomenon of the biking bubble is losing time; what happened on what day and where  becomes a blur. So a few days of lost blogging can create havoc.  Since I can't and don't take notes as I ride, I rely on my pictures to jog my memory...but again, this memory is not  what it used to be. 

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble."

So the bubble does create toil and trouble in recall and recording that recall.....   I last recorded June 8; the following day I was SAG driver.  

The day started relatively easy, until I followed Jan and Lin; they are our oldest and most reliable riders.  They set a pace, and though it may not be as hurried as others, it is steady, steady, steady.  I spied them ahead as I drove to the next SAG spot, looked for their 'thumbs up', (which signals all is ok), as I passed, and continued on my way.  After several miles, the cues and street signs weren't  in sync; deciding I had missed the turn, I retraced my steps.  Sure enough, there were Lin and Jan, also going the opposite direction than when I passed them the first time.  I think they realized a little quicker that we had missed the turn.  

As the SAG, it is quite embarassing to have to pass the same rider twice;everyone knows I'm not being kind and checking on them again.  It's the drive of shame as it is quite evident that I got lost....again. 

Passing them twice, however, became the easy part of the day.  I got a call at about mile 40 that the road was flooded and was given an alternative route my our guide, Denise.  She was on her bike and doing it on the fly.  I relayed those directions to several of the back riders, including Lin and Jan.  I drove ahead to scout the new route and confirm it for them.  They were not correct, and I had to give the riders an alternative route of my own...me, direction-challenged Sue is guiding these poor guileless riders on a detour...

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble." 

Lo and behold, my detour worked out, and the riders were able to pick up  the original route on the cue sheet without adding too many extra miles.  After that, it was an easy, but still lengthy, ride in for them.

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble,  Leave this island on the double."

No, I won't be leaving this island for awhile....... I kinda like living in this bubble.

A train going under the Ohio turnpike, while I go under it....

Entrance to a wonderful bike path between Fremont and Clyde.  Both towns have beautifully restored Victorian homes.

Bugs on our window trying to get in.