Sir Duke Singing Saturday In The Park

I muppered alone this Friday morning to the tunes of U2, Chili Peppers, vintage Stevie Wonder and Chicago, under an open, blue sky, scattered with a few clouds, an eighty-some degree temperature and low humidity.

The ferocious canines weren't in their watch spot, thankfully. The last time they barred their sharp, yellow teeth, laden with rabies and tetnus was about a month ago and Kim and I were sent scrambling up the country road on our two wheels like a couple of lycra-clad bank robbers fleeing the law. We got up the hill alright, without getting bitten or knocked down by the four legged challengers, both of us filled with adrenaline and quite annoyed. Not just because of the sizable mutts chasing us and the oblivious owners, but at the flat I had gotten along the way, and the amount of time it took to change it, because of my hard casing tires that I bought so I wouldn't get flats. Those puppies are difficult to get back on! Thankfully, Kim has strong thumbs.

Wind was from the southwest as I went through Roca. Taking 40th to Saltillo, then traversing towards Roca has served me well from a convenient route standpoint. Coming home north on 77 is usually a surefire way to get my tailwind push. It has good hills to sprint up and if I come home via 14th, past the Y and on the trails, it's a decent ride.

On my way back, I observed two guitarists adorning brightly colored attire who were appreciating the lovely morning at Tierra Park. I couldn't hear if they were any good or not, on account of the music in my headphones playing too loudly. I smiled internally and rode on. The skateboarders weren't out, which disappointed me. The last time I rode through Tierra, there was a plethora of motion between the skateboarders and the BMX ridin' kids who told me they brought in their own dirt to do jumps on, after I had asked them where it had come from. I said "That's Sweet!" and started riding away to thier applause (OK, only one kid was clapping), which I had to assume was due to my obvious approval of their ambitious dirt project and not my skill of clipping in.

I was caught on two occasions singing out loud today and one of the incidences was with an elderly woman who heard me and thought I was just saying "hi" to her as she watered her flowers in her yard along the trail in Williamsburg. I played along and waved, which I would have done anyway, even if she hadn't heard me, just because she was a sweet old lady. The other time was a definite "catch". I was singing 'Elevation' quite loudly, cooling down on the trails, when an oncoming cyclist passed me around a curve. Not a word was uttered, just a look given. Sort of like a nod, but with a twinkle in the eye of the knowing rider. I was busted!

There should be a rule against mupperin' alone on such mighty fine day.