While yesterday I determined that fall might never arrive with another day of 90*+, today’s dawning seems like perhaps cooler weather has finally arrived. I’m usually plenty warm after a swim, bike ride, or jog, but this morning the blood is slow to heat my body. Maybe it was the swim… Trying to mix in aquatic activities three times a week I zipped to the pool on my bicycle Monday to be greeted by cold water.
Another swimmer commented that the temperature hovered at 80* so I plowed my way through my lap routine. I felt nervous as I sped down the hill, but I had faith that the problem had been resolved and that the boiler would be running (and heating) once more. To my chagrin as I dipped toe one into the pool, iciness met my touch. Oh, well, I pondered, I’m here. I can do this! 30 minutes later I hauled myself out and headed toward the locker room, shivering but knowing daily exercise had been completed. Hesitantly I asked the lifeguard about the cold water, the boiler, and broken parts to which she acknowledged to my pain with a wishful hope that it problem might be fixed soon. Admitting that the last breakdown occurred only a couple of weeks earlier I shuddered at the thought of no swimming coming up. Arriving home, I dug out my warmest sweatshirt and jeans, snuggled into them, and blew the bodily quivers away. My return to positivity also brought me back to the prospect that the repair pieces are in the mail and that by Friday, my worries will be solved. I just wondered why the coolest day of the past many months fell on the day of my required plunge.
As for biking… it is a much warmer sport. In the summer I leave the house around 6:30 with plenty of bright sunshine, little traffic, and an easy cycle trip around my home area. Timing myself to 40 minutes means I return home in time to take care of all of the other details of my morning routine. Now, however, change has interrupted that schedule. I have excellent front and back lights on my bike, but riding in the dark or early dawn requires caution. It seems that everyone I meet or those who pass me are in a hurry and driving a loud pick-up. The roar alerts me so I do utter a thanks for the warning, but the fumes? Well, I prefer not to dwell on that. As the days grow shorter and sunrise gets later, I am forced to choose between darkness or school traffic. It gets wild near my home and everyone rushes. What a quandary – darkness or daylight; quiet or a crowd?! Of course, the situation is easily solved with good timing – letting the sun pop up, beating the traffic to French Ford and Lowry, and then designing a route to avoid zooming vehicles. Ok and all right – I have to adjust myself and thus my attitude.
And then there is jogging. I actually prefer to exit my home in the dark. There is something secure in this – and it is so silent. Many streets, however, have no lights or the existing ones are not functioning. This too I can solve by dragging out my headlamp. Yep – it is ready for tomorrow. Typically, there is no one out and about – not walkers, nor joggers, nor cars. A few campers and dog strollers are often parked at the Kluncy Canyon cattleguard, but they are usually busy with sleeping or chasing a pet and so I find the stillness of early morning. Cooler weather and back-to-school schedules though, interrupt this tranquility. Yesterday, for example, under cover of darkness I encountered four different sets of folks with dogs, a golf cart, two bicyclists, a lone stroller, and some rambunctious walker/talkers. OK, you are right! I need to just shout hello, smile, and enjoy the fact that so many others are engaging in an exercise plan mixed with camaraderie. I need to chat with myself and get my attitude back into the positivity track.
Soon, other projects will fill my day including yardwork. Leaves will fly as will rakes that chase them, plants will force pulling and chucking, and frost will lead to prepping for next year’s planting. These tasks bring a sense of accomplishment as I look forward to winter and spring.