Pedal pedal pedal

As the days of summer tick away (Is it really almost the end of July?), I've been getting as much time as I can manage on the bike. It's an obsession. Most of you who actually read my scribbles are probably thinking, "yeah, so what's new about this Joni?". But it's different. I used to take days off the bike, knowing that another nice day to ride would be tomorrow....and just about every tomorrow for the rest of the year. But not anymore. I ride in weather (wind) I'd never ride in before.

I can already feel that Fall is approaching. The days are noticeably shorter, the mornings are cooler. I love Fall---it's always been my favorite season. But the Winter that follows Fall, for my entire life, has been maybe a rainier version of Fall---but still an outside, out-of-doors adventure. There's not a single person that I've met here in Marshall who doesn't give me a funny look when I tell them I've never experienced a Minnesota winter before---or a white-out (which is something I thought you used to erase typewriter mistakes), et al.

Hmmmm....It will be interesting to see what I think about "winter"---but right now, I just keep pedaling. It keeps me grounded and helps me to "enjoy the day". It'll be interesting if they actually make those changes they've been talking about in the Wall Street Journal in regards to extending the daylight savings time, in an effort to reduce energy costs. Mike and I would both love it.

I just finished doing a bunch of housework this morning since I don't have to work today. I am working tomorrow and I like Mike to have no-housework left to do on his days off. Now I am off to the field with the small hound and then out on the road with my bicycle. I need to go back to Clarkfield to take back those warm weather pants since the gal who is supposed to be at the store wasn't there and it was closed last time I went (even though the posted hours and the website said it would be open....grrrr)

Just over two weeks and we're off to Grand Marais! Woo hoo!

Happy Friday---California dreaming---literally. I was riding up West Alpine at 6am CST this morning when the Scrapper started licking my arm to wake me up!