Tired Days and “48” (July 8, 2012

Even Rosie the bear is doing a "48"!

Today I am tired and need a rest day.  But it is all relative.  A couple of days ago we passed a fellow on the road near Niagra Falls in NY who was riding a mountain bike.  He had come from Rochester on the Canal Trail and was going to the falls for his forty-eight birthday.  A good idea – if you are prepared. (It is about a hundred miles and in the sun.)  He was not. 

He had the smallest of water bottles which was empty.  He asked if we had water he could have and David gave him some.  We invited him to ride with us, but he was toasted and couldn’t keep up even at 8 miles an hour.  About a mile ahead was a farm stand, and we told the woman who worked there to watch out for him.  So now when we bonk or get super tired on the bike, we say we are doing a “48.” 

We also passed a woman who was riding in an electric chair going about 1 MPH on the shoulder of the road.(There was no sidewalk.)  The chair was straining to get up the hill, clearly it was low on batteries.  When we inquired if she was okay, she could barely speak and gestured that the chair needed to be plugged in.  She had a loaf of bread in the front basket.  I hope she made it to her destination.

So, tired is relative, as are the circumstances of tired.  I am tired, but look forward to a day off the bike which I am thankful that I can still ride.