Not a Psalm 1

How do I praise you father?
How do I speak my gratitude?
I cannot return your grace.

You whisper to me in the quiet hours each morning,
before the first diamond of light sparkles on distant peaks.

You walk with me through the forest,
where tears of rain touch the fingertips of tall trees.

You give me strength to climb the mountain,
where I gaze far and marvel at the miracle of your creation.

You stand beside me by the ocean
where I feel your power in waves that crash against the reef;
I feel your love,
as those towering waves become soft blankets covering my toes.

Father, you sit beside me in the late of day.
As I watch the sun bleed her life across the sky,
I recall the blood you shed for me,
and your promise of a new day.

How do I praise you father? How do I speak my gratitude?
All that I have, all that I am or ever will be, all that is good is from you, Lord.
I cannot return your grace.

Gertude’s Cough Syrup

I had a terrible cough for three days.  Martha made this stuff for me. She learned to make it from her mom.  I was skeptical, but took it as instructed. To my surprise, it worked!

marthascoughsyrupIngredients
  • 1/4 c. whiskey
  • 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
  • big squeeze honey
Directions

Mix together, put in jar.  Take 1 tbsp. frequently

 

PR on Humboldt

Personal Record
Air Traffic Control Radar on Humboldt Summit
Air Traffic Control Radar on Humboldt Summit

One popular feature of Strava tells you when you ride a particular segment of a route faster than ever before.  It also reports time compared to other riders who have ridden that segment.  I’ve admonished friends who seem to be addicted to these stats.  The PR quest is guaranteed to be a losing game. Eventually your age will catch up to your ability to keep going faster.

Humboldt

Late yesterday afternoon I set a new PR climbing Humboldt Mountain.  Not by accident, I was going full bore.  I warmed up riding to the base of the climb, hit my LT and stayed there from bottom to top.  Not only did I set a PR, my time was shorter than several cycling buddies, all strong riders.

Actually, anyone who rides up Humboldt is strong. The grade steepens from   7% to 11% after the first half mile. The asphalt pavement has eroded and broken over years of neglect, leaving deep potholes with abrupt ridges and several stretches of dirt and gravel.  The road ascends 1600 feet in 3 1/2 miles.

About the PR thing, I still think it’s stupid.  Like playing in Vegas: keep playing long enough and lose.

About beating my buddies, also stupid.  Makes no sense, but it’s in our genes.  Or maybe it’s not stupid.  Much better to enjoy healthy competitions and laugh about them instead of killing each other over desires for money or sex.

Better still, enjoy riding your bike slowly, stop and check out the geology, maybe take pictures.