Did I just go on a 36-mile bike ride or a safari?
My ride this morning was gorgeous, rain-free, and so exciting! I saw so many wild animals! My first encounter was a turtle:
He was stuck in the gutter so I knocked on his shell (to make him hide inside), picked him, and placed him near the grass, facing a nice pond:
Up next was a duo of Sandhill Cranes. I love these big birds; they are so pretty.
Then, I saw a wild bunny rabbit. I have this weird superstition that spotting a wild bunny is actually a good luck omen! So I was very excited.
Around mile 15.0, I spotted an ALLIGATOR!
For a native Floridian like myself, gators are really not a big deal (they are literally everywhere), but they are still pretty cool! Just like a living dinosaur. 🙂
And last up…. I rounded a corner around mile 17.0 and saw a momma wild boar and four baby boars! At first, I thought it was a group of BLACK BEARS — that’s how big they were! I slammed on my brakes, but the moment they spotted me, they turned and sprinted into the trees. I was so excited; I’ve never actually seen a real boar before.
Twas a very exotic ride!
- Duration: 2 hours, 55 minutes
- Distance: 36 miles (I’m so slow; I realized towards the end of my ride I’ve been in the wrong gear this entire time. Duh!)
- Calories Burned: 1,200 (estimate)
New Gear!
I tried out a new pair of sports sunglass on my ride today!
I’ve been dying for a good pair of sports sunglasses (the key is buying a pair with shatter-proof lens — you don’t want plastic in your eyeball in a crash!), but all the ones I’ve found in stores have been $50 or more. That’s TOO RICH for my blood.
Yesterday at the grocery store (of all places), I found these Foster Grant IronMan sunglasses for $15.99! They were great, stayed on my nose, and had gripping sides for stability! Loved them!
Fueling for Rides
Something I’ve been thinking about a lot is how I should be fueling for bike rides. I felt like I had eating for running down — I knew how much to eat before, during, and after a long run. But biking is so different!
Today, I had 1/2 a whole wheat bagel, PB, a coffee, and a bowl of watermelon before I left for my ride:
My conundrum with fueling for bike rides if although I am not burning the same calories/hour that I would be if I was running, I am out on the bike for a much, much longer time. I think that I will need to take two packets of goo when I’m out there for longer than 3 hours, because I got pretty hungry towards the end of my ride!
Today I ate one packet of Clif Shot Energy Gel around mile 15.0. I like the Razz flavor AND I ate it while moving. With the Bloks or Jelly Beans, I have to stop the bike to eat them. There’s about 100 calories in each Gel.
When I got home, I attacked the fridge!
I took the leftover Mini Asparagus Quiche, heated it up, and stuffed it into a whole wheat wrap. Viola – lunch in seconds!
Plus more watermelon! I just found a HUGE whole watermelon so expect to see lots in the near future. 🙂
I need to eat more food! I’m not nearly refueled enough. But, a shower calls!
Have a wonderful day!
Try frozen watermelon..it’s awesome. Are those goo packets good?