Monday, November 22, 2004

11:24 PM Here are two new entries on the Crosswalk weblog: Michael Jordan and Ron Artest A Hymn by Richard Baxter 9:53 AM My brother Alan writes from Tupelo, Mississippi that he rode 38 miles last week on his new bike. Now he and a friend are thinking about riding the Natchez Trace next May and would I like to come along? I’d love to do it if I could work out my schedule to make it happen. I’ve never done a long bike trip like that. The parkway starts in Nashville and ends in Natchez 444 miles later. Most bikers make the trip in the spring or the fall because it’s incredibly hot and sticky during the summer months. Alan also asked if I ride when it’s wet. Last night I rode 11 miles in 40-degree weather and felt very comfortable. I ordered pull-over insulated booties for my bike shoes and wore them for the first time last night. They seemed to work very well. Cold fingers and toes are the enemy of winter riding. I can ride when the temperature is in the mid-teens but the streets have to be clear and there can’t be any rain and not much wind. When it’s cold and rainy, it’s dangerous and not worth it. Yesterday Marie Jones came up to me and said, “I almost hit you on Friday.” I was out for a ride in the morning and it was overcast, misty and generally soggy. I remember having a couple of close calls on that ride but I didn’t see Marie. Our near-collision happened at an intersection, which is where most bike accidents occur. Just part of the hazards of riding on city streets. 9:45 AM Monday shout-out to Dick Andre who told me yesterday that he checks this weblog every morning and is disappointed if I don’t have something posted by 8:30 AM. That made me smile. It is sort of addictive, isn’t it? I check quite a few weblogs every day just to see what folks are up to. 9:21 AM A friend wants to know what “shout-out” means. Is it good or bad? It’s very good. A “shout-out” is a friendly greeting. It’s like shouting hello to a friend across a busy street.