How do Rabbits Keep Their Cool

July 8, 2015
The American Speech Language and Hearing Association sponsors a summer professional development event called the ASHA Schools Conference.  This conference is rotated around the country and usually  held in resort areas for affordable airfare  and accommodations.  One of my favorite locations was Phoenix AZ in July.  The outdoor temperature was 116 degrees during the day and 108 degrees at  night.

The first morning of the conference we sauntered from our lovely room through the air conditioned hallways to the conference venue.  Walking past a bank of windows my eye caught something unusual outside on the lawn.  Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of cotton tailed bunnies were sprawled out on the grass. And I do mean sprawled.  Their little front  legs and longer back legs splayed out so that their tummies were flat against the grass.  Although I thought there had been a mass epidemic of bunny deaths, a hotel worker  explained they came in from the dessert at night to cool themselves on the lawns and golf courses of the resorts.  Smart bunnies, on the cool grass.

That's where I wanted to be during the ride back to Hermiston on  the July 5th 73 miler. I wanted to find a lovely  roadside yard with some big ole' trees and sprawl out so my tummy could cool off.  Air temperature was over 103 degrees,  Pavement temperature was way higher than that.  And the basalt cliffs reflected the heat right down on us.  I grabbed a water bottle from its holder on the bike frame  below me.  Expecting cool refreshment I gagged as the very warm, almost hot, water streamed into my mouth and down my throat.  I felt sick to my stomach, my heart was racing.  My face was beet red.  "Charlie" I said.  "We need to find some shade."

He pulled Grepedo over into the only shade around.  A couple of small trees by the side of the road shaded a narrow rocky shoulder.  It was right on a curve'  I put out an old beach towel from home on the rocks. Charlie removed  the roll of toilet paper we carried in a Glad sandwich  and prompted it under me to protect my head.  The luke warm water I poured on my back and neck provided little relief.  Charlie laid the bike down and crouched in the shade.  I worried about where we stopped as the bend in the road blocked the view of oncoming motorists.  The coolness I got from the shade was enough to stop my racing heart and return my face to a healthy hue of pink. A slight breeze drifted through the trees.  I fell asleep.

After the brief rest I sat up on my towel at the edge of the shoulder.  I looked at us.  We looked like we had wrecked.  I wondered if any cars would stop to see if we were OK.. One did.  The only vehicle that came by turned around to check on us.  I almost asked for a ride.  But I didn't.

We rode on, stopping every few miles to drink warm water.  There were some uphills and down hills and we pedaled just fine.  The pavement was so potholed Charlie did not dare let the bike run its fullspeed down hill. That would have cooled us off.  I felt sick again.  My weak voice squeaked out "Charlie, find a Ramos house with some Ramos people and some Ramos water.  I want Ramos trees and Ramos grass.  I want to lay our on their lawn". And soon enough we were at old Joe Ramos's house and he rode me up the gravel drive to the lawn.  I almost fell asleep sprawled out there, but I was coerced inside by cool water and a place to lay down in front of the air conditioner. "Sis" Ramos brought me a pillow and Jean Ramos West brought me more water.  And I slept with arms and legs splayed out on their cool carpet. Cooling off like the bunnies in Phoenix.

I thought I recovered enough to make the 20 miles back to town.  The micro climate changes throughout the agricultural areas on the Meadows route saved us.  But when Charlie suggested we stop at the A and W for a burger I almost threw up all over his back.  Home sweet home.  He dropped me off across the street as usual.  I walked myself into the house.  This girl with Parkinson's Disease rode with her husband 73 miles of challenging terrain, walked into the house, took a shower and fell asleep.

The reward came a little later.  I don't remember telling him what I wanted to eat,  a quiet nudging voice said, "your egg flower soup and pepsi are in the kitchen"  I had not had either of these items in years, but my body must have been calling out for salt and sugar..

Rabbits have the right idea.  Sprawl out and keep cool.  I think I showed my gutsy side today.  Never a quitter.  I won't quit this fight.

Tandem Riding Report July 5

Tandem Riding Report July 5. 73 MILES. Top Speed 36 MPH. Today's goal was to give GrePedo a good long ride to work out the kinks. I learned from bike mechanic Steve that some of the cables need to be stretched and tightened . I interpreted that to be like stringing a guitar, stretching the strings as you start to tighten them up so that they will stay in tune better later. My biggest concern was the seat. I was pretty worried when I looked at it because it was not this padded wide cushy seat I was used to on the Big yellow mosquito eater. Turns out it was so much better than what I could have expected and the bike seat was a perfect match for my seat. GrePedo is a good 20lbs lighter than the BYME and has more gears to work with. Charlie was excited to try out the brakes...Always thinking we are going to be up and out early, we actually left the Safeway parking lot with our Bananas, fruit bowls and yogurt about 8:30. Today's route to Pendleton was Despain Gulch. At the end of that route is a long downhill. In the past he has not let us exceed 25 mph respecting my anxiety issues. Today we both tucked it in close to the bike and 36 mph seemed like nothing. It rode smooth and solid and I felt very safe. Charlie applied the disc brakes and the quiet fluttering sound brought us to the speed limit as we entered town. A salad and Gatorade later we headed towards Reith Road and followed the Umatilla River home.Those who have ridden that road know its reputation. The heat from the basalt cliffs and the black top (whats left of it) was pretty rough on me. We went through our water fast. But Charlie knows everyone so before long I was napping on someones living room floor in front of their air conditioner while he traded stories with the homeowners. After a good rest we pedaled another 20 miles and We made it home! YAY. Finally! A quick rinse off in the shower and I was asleep. I must have been ordering food in my sleep because Charlie woke me up saying "your egg flower soup and Pepsi are in the kitchen". I have not had either of these items in years but boy were they GOOD! GrePedo will go in for some adjustments but let me tell you...this is an awesome bike. And 73 miles later I am still walking and talking. SORT OF.

I put on my boots today

Reaching into my closet while squeezed between the rocking chair and the closet door may not have been the greatest idea. I was stiff and hurting if not from the Parkinsons Disease which is progressing  through  my body, then the 30 minutes on the bicycle trainer at 80 rpm or higher.  I wanted my boots, my hiking boots. But I was getting myself stuck.. I put them on once a few months ago then hid them away where I could not see them, under the  sweaters and blouses hung there in hopes I will be able to fit in them again.  The boots called to me, " come wear me" . "Walk me over hills, through  vineyards and on the hard pavement and cracked sidewalks of city streets. ". The insides felt so familiar to my feet.  I needed that comfortable supportive   feeling.  The smoothness of the custom orthotics took away the tingling in the bottoms of my feet.  So thats where they  had been hiding.  These nice boots that had protected my feet while  walking on the GR 65 the Chemin le Puy from Montcuq, France to Roncesvaile Spain, in the spring of 2013.  I had very few blisters wearing these Keens.   Do they have another go round left in them?  Do I ?

It turns out that the old friends are too worn.  They helped my body get through all that mud on GR 65 in 2013 and the wonderful mud, as (facial mudd is supposed to do,) closed up the pores (in this case the breathability pores in the boot membranes). 
Will the new blue made in USA Keens be the ones? Will they provide as good as  "understanding" as the old ones.  Will they reveal to me their heart and sole?  Will they say "Don't tread on me" when someone with large feet gets too close.  Boots are such a personal thing...you can't go out and buy them for another person.  The new blue Keens and I are dating.  If they dont work out in some training hikes they can be returned.

In Reponseti " cat pee"

Not to downplay cat pee as that is truly gross and stinky. These situations are part of life's little adventures. Annoying as they are... They are basis of great stories to be retold for years to come. When we had interns and student teachers move on to their next experience I would give them a notebook and told them they should fill dozens of notebooks with stories of their experiences. Stories inspire, educate and entertain. Lindsay Sundberg Murdock your Facebook postings do all of the above for your readers. You have so many Rocky heights stories to share with your new school family. I had the opportunity to work at Rocky Heights which along with McNary Heights were my favorite base schools in 32 years. Now to my story that OuTdOeS yours. One day the school psychologist and I went to complete a developmental evaluation on a preschooler in the RH neighborhood. I tested first while she observed and then we switched roles. I moved backwards out of the way and sat down. I smelled something and then realized my bottom was getting damp. I had parked myself directly on top of human vomit. Holding my own gags back I looked at my watch and said "oh no I have another appointment." Home was only a few blocks away and I went directly from car to shower completely dressed. It was after that I carried a "home visit bag" including a picnic blanket and change of clothes. Cherish your stories and the lessons learned. We all love to hear them and your boys will tell their kids the stories of their school teacher ranch mom.