Until I hit the pathway at 16th ave, the FLIES! Lord Thundering Jesus… the FLIES! with my cold I am unable to breathe even normally though my nose right now and certainly not while pounding the pedals, I was traveling through CLOUDS of flies, it sounded like rain falling on my jacket, I was breathing through my teeth while keeping my chin on my chest to try to breathe in as few of them as possible.

Then I noticed my legs, you know what it looks like when you step on an ant hill? Well picture that, but with little black flies trying to escape my fly traps, er leg hair. I clumsily tried to shoo them off, but all i got was a tangle of squished bug and hair that I think was even worse. I did a couple of bunny hops to get rid of the flies that were on my jacket, and dislodged a small cloud from my handle bar bag as well that i had not seen. I got used to the Bubble bees hitting me on that path, I got used to the dragon flies sunning themselves on the path then hitting me in the face, I got used to the grasshoppers hopping off the path and into my face. I don’t think I can deal with these bugs, I may have to stick to the road until the cold kills them off, which is unfortunate, I really enjoy that section of pathway.

It was COLD this morning! As I left my house, I praised my full fingered semi-armoured former motorcycling gloves for keeping my fingers nice and toasty. Until my thoughts turned to the chill, and then near pain that was coming from my ears! I have an interesting dilemma, the parts of my head which are covered by my helmet were toasty warm, if not a little too warm which I think would prevent me from wearing a stylish beanie to keep my ears warm. It leads me to the more embarrassing route of some sort of head band. I have never liked head bands, even dislike them, (but not to the point of how much I dislike the fake baseball cap headbands that some golfers seem to prefer along with their bright pink plaid pants… but I digress) and I cannot help but think that it would interfere with the fit of my helmet. Perhaps some sort of stylish ear muff system? Electrical tape along the lines of a rugby prop too manly to wear a skull cap? next will be the switch to stylish riding pants (gortex on the front, spandex on the back)

I am sure that after my vacation next week that it is going to be significantly colder on that first ride the following week. All I really know though, is that I am not quitting before you do!