The 4 lane road with traffic was the start and end of my ride this morning but the bulk of the trip was along pretty roads. I was pleasantly surprised by how bike friendly Conway has tried to make their town.
I started my ride at 8:00, so the roads were relatively quiet. I first spied this building from two blocks away down a tree lined street. I like the old tan bricks and the arches over the window.
I liked this curious structure by the railroad tracks that I assumed was once some sort of granary. I thought someone had a sense of humor when I saw a sign on the building that said COVINGTON TOWERS. But when I rode around the back, I saw that this had been turned into apartments or condos. I like that they left the long chutes on the front.
This truck was parked in the driveway of a house on a residential street I rode down. There are two stickers in particular I find very interesting and I hope once the the picture is clicked on to enlarge, they will be readable: the Bomb Squad and the This Flag stickers. But, I do feel and empathize for the pain and hurt that the owner of this truck must feel. The very large POW-MIA sticker speaks volumes. Just after taking the truck picture, I had a bit of a scare when I stopped to take off a couple of shirts. My bike fell over and I was concerned since it fell on the rear derailleur. Then, I spotted my camera on the ground lying in a small puddle of water and a moment later I saw my phone as well in water. I dried them off as well as possible and stuck them in my pockets to absorb any residual moisture. The camera was my biggest concern as that has become as much a part of my Daily Ride as my bike. A short while later, I came across Richard walking his three dogs and I was happy to see that the camera was still working.
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| Richard and, from left to right, Marley, Baby Girl and Ricky. |
After leaving Richard, I came across a sprawling factory. Normally, that might not seem like the best thing to encounter on a bike ride. But, there was something very comforting about this factory that must have covered about 5 acres. The fact that it was sitting alone among trees gave it a special appeal. Some very nice homes were within waking distance. There was a peace to be had in knowing that this factory helped sustain the community. The factory turned out to be Virco, a maker of school furniture since the 1950s.
I think one might have to be a farmer to best appreciate the irony of this picture.
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| Mary Whistler |
By the time I passed Mary on her bike, I was on a mission. For the first 45 minutes of my morning ride, I was moving at a snail's pace, stopping quite a bit to take pictures and just enjoy my Sunday ride (on Saturday). But then I shifted into high gear and I was determined to hit 20 miles before I had to get back to the hotel to pack up and head for the soccer field. So, when I passed Mary, time was of the essence. I said good morning and a quick tug of war ensued within me to stop or not to stop to ask for a picture. Obviously, I gave in, and I'm glad I did. Mary told me that she tried to ride every day as well.
And finally...
Rachel's soccer game was against Conway High School. At some point during the game, I looked at the score board more intently and The Wampus Cats, caught my eye. "What is a Wampus Cat?" I asked to the folks around. No one had a clue but someone googled it and the creature actually has a history. A wampus cat is from American folklore, a fearsome variation of a cougar with six legs. It is compared to the Ewah of Cherokee mythology which is a half-woman, half-cat. So, I'm thinking that the extra pair of legs is actually a pair of arms. In any case, very interesting.
Today's most excellent ride: 1hr 49mins. 22.03 miles. 53 degrees. Miles YTD: 1,300.03
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