Nerd Em's Adventures
I’m awake at eight and take off on the trails soon after. It’s supposed to be quite hot and windy today, so I’d like to get in some hiking before the heat and humidity become unpleasant. I hike through valleys with big trees and along the ridges, down through the Girl Scout camp the park has recently annexed and through pleasant picnic areas. Even though the campground is crowded I have the trails all to myself. Read more
Yesterday, I made a deal with the wind, as it was buffeting my tent and blowing things all over the campground. The Sunday forecast was for windy conditions again, though not as bad. I said, ‘now, I know you’ve gotta do your thing and I know you need to head toward areas of lower pressure; HOWEVER, I also need to do my thing and get to Colorado. If you can just hold off each day until 9 or 10 to let me get some miles in, I promise to get up early even though I’m not much of a morning person. I’ll let you think on it’. Read more
I can see a flag from my motel window. It does not look good. The wind has already reneged on our deal. The flag sticks out from the pole, but is not yet rippling straight out. It’s going to be a tough day if the wind is doing that at 5:30am. Read more
I survived the night. In the morning, my chest is still tight, but once I use my inhaler things begin to loosen. I leave considerable bits of the contents of my lungs along the seven mile ride back into town, but by mid-morning my lungs will be fine. Hwy 50 is a different road at 8am today. There’s little traffic and there’s only a truck or two. Read more
Today is one of the more significant days of the trip. I will visit Homestead National Monument and Rock Creek Station to learn about the opening up of the west for settlement and why people voluntarily emigrate away from the security and comfort of their previous homes. It will give me a chance to reflect on my own immigrant journey in Australia. (emigrate – to leave and journey away from; immigrate – to move into or toward). Read more
What should I do today? I could explore the trails a bit more and pick up some ticks; I could go for a ride to check out the surrounding area. Or I could do nothing. There’s a lot still churning in my head. In the end, I opt to do nothing. And it is a perfect day for it. It is sunny, 70 degrees and no wind. Read more
I’m on the road again early to keep my deal with the wind. I’m taking the back way into Fairbury along the rolling hills of the Pwf Road. It’s a beautiful, sunny morning, although it’s already pretty warm. Just as I come to a stop sign on the edge of Fairbury, the naturalist from the park drives by on her way to work. She smiles and honks and waves out the window like I’m a long-lost relative. That’s a nice start to the day. Read more
It’s early, but I’m afraid of disturbing a family member in the laundry room bathroom at the motel, so I pack up quietly and carry out morning ablutions at the city park toilets on the way out of town. I’ve got a deal with the wind and my early start is part of that deal. The winds are forecast to be out of the south at 35 mph again, and I know from my experience on the ride so far that I can handle crosswinds up to 30mph, but I start getting blown off or into the road above that. It’s calm, now, at 6:00, so I want to put some miles in. Read more
It is Memorial Day. My paternal Grandpa is on my mind today. I wish he had lived to see me finish a PhD and undertake this ride. He would have been so proud. My Grandpa intrinsically understood me and embraced my sense of adventure and intellectual bent. We did science experiments together in his garage and he tried to teach me all about electrical wiring and how to use all sorts of tools. He always encouraged me to ‘follow your bliss’ and said that I had the spirit of a modern day Amelia Earhart. Read more
Apparently, there were strong storms overnight and the tornado siren went off south of here. But I didn’t hear a thing. Based on the way my ear hurts, I probably never even rolled over all night. However, when I walk back over the interstate to gather some food for today, there are huge puddles everywhere, so it’s obvious they got some significant rain. The wind is also quite strong and out of the north. I just giggle inside knowing that I did 42 north-bound miles in less than 2 hours yesterday, and that if I’d had to do that today against this wind, it would have taken me the entire painful day. Read more