Found some zen today

[westtexas]

Hi all,

I thought on the current rotation I am on in the hospital I'd be pulling 15+ hour days but for some reason we've been very efficiently handling patients, their surgeries and care (knock on wood) and I've actually had time to ride every night so far this week.

Today the wind was only blowing 10mph so I went for a ride. At first, I hit a serious wall. I had barely gone halfway on my 15 mile ride and I wanted to be home very badly. It must have been because yesterday was very windy and I went too far and too hard for too long.

However, after all the discussions on here about "riding friendly" I was incredibly surprised to meet 3 other cyclists on my route (I usually see zero) who also waved back, enthusiastically no less! Also two guys from the Cavalry on their horses waved.

After that, despite all the tiredness from the hospital and my foolish ride yesterday... I found some serious zen and rode with a big smile on my face all the way home.

I hope everyone else had excellent rides today, and those of us who've been dealing with ridiculous wind this spring got to enjoy the balmy day today!

[MollyJ]

Wind forecast for Kansas this weekend calls for winds in the 20's with gusts into the 30's for this evening. still the sun is supposed to shine so I might go out there and try it. Gotta do it.

[MollyJ]

Ooh, update. gusts up to 40-42 mph. Thinking about rigging a sail and biking to the Colorado border....

[ZenBiker]

I'm done with work for the day and wanting to ride but winds here are 23 mph gusting over 50. I'm soooo tired of wind!

ETA: our winds are out of the west - MollyJ, wanna meet in Colorado??

[MollyJ]

Westtexas, I am a nurse also but a school nurse. Out of team spirit and good will I signed up to work the school carnival. Signed up for 4 to 5:30--got done at 7:00 pm.

Though I miss the hospital (really) I love my kids, my families and the people I work with. First graders and kindergarteners are huggy. Kids can be spontaneous and very truthful. I've also learned that the frequent flyers I used to see in my ED days start "that" in elementary school.

'Course the KS legislature is working the budget over with a machete, chainsaw, flame thrower so we'll see if we're still in the budget next year.

[westtexas]

Actually MollyJ, I'm a veterinarian (or will be in one week) and I'm finishing up rotations on my clinical year in the hospital. I too think I will miss it, but right now I can't wait to get the heck out of there and have 4.5 day work weeks and Sundays all to myself with no emergency on-call. Of course, I am moving to an even windier place, so who knows if I will ever get to ride again, haha!

[MollyJ]

Sorry about my confusion. And congratulations on your graduation! It's a long road to that point, isn't it.

[Tri Girl]

Good for you for remembering to wave, and most of all, smile!! I was going to ride 30 yesterday after work, but with winds at 35 gusting to 50, I changed my mind. I almost got blown over on my ride home from work.
Wind, wind, go away. You do nothing productive, but get me all angered up!

Congrats on your completion of your rotations, Westtexas!! It must be nice to be (almost) done!! And where are you moving? What place could possibly be windier than west Texas????

[westtexas]

And where are you moving? What place could possibly be windier than west Texas????

Haha, I'm actually finally moving *to* west Texas. Had drink with my boss last night since she is in town for CE and she told me it's similar there to how it is for you - 30mph steady on with 50 mph gusts. And the dust is apparently awful, not to mention all the smoke from the fires. I may be getting a set of rollers sooner than I anticipated...

[Velocivixen]

Westtexas, I enjoyed reading your post and am happy that you found your Zen place. Being new to riding I haven't found my Zen often, but I have a few times and I loved it!

Thanks for sharing.

[Tri Girl]

Haha, I'm actually finally moving *to* west Texas.

OK- because west TX is pretty windy- I truly cannot imagine a place windier than that.
Oh, and the tumbleweeds. Every time we are out that we we encounter the craziest tumbleweeds. Very strange. And yes, the dust storms. When there's nothing but flat for hundreds (thousands) of miles, I guess that's what you get.