Robert's Northern Transcontinental bike ride 2018: Day 22: Sunday sing along

I had an interesting phone conversation with my number one daughter a couple of days back. We were discussing how I occupy myself for the long hours of riding as compared to time in a car. I considered the question during today's ride. There are a couple of major differences.

First off the act of riding, even when by yourself, demands more moment to moment attention than does most driving. Today for example I was ruminating for a moment about something I'd said but quickly found that I had to pay attention to some rough spots in the road. So the kind of extended thoughts that you might develop when driving tend to get clipped when on a bike.

Secondly I don't listen to music or radio/podcasts when I'm riding like I do when driving. I want my ears to be open and attentive both as a matter of safety and because you can hear things like the calls of Killdeer and Red Wing Blackbirds when you are going 18 MPH instead of 70 MPH.

However not playing music doesn't turn off the music. Sometimes you hear something that reminds you of a song, e.g. my bike computer makes three notes when a turn is required which are pretty much the starting of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme --- which is an irresistible ear worm! Then sometimes a few words, or a view, or a sign by the side of the road will recall a line from some tune, then you spend an hour or two snatching at the wisps and shades of memory trying to get the rest of the song, or maybe just the first verse or even just how the song starts! These are days is one such song for me that so beautifully expresses my gratitude for being alive and for having these days to do this trip:

These are days you'll remember

Never before and never since

I promise

Will the whole world be warm as this

And as you feel it

You'll know it's true

That you are blessed and lucky

It's true that you

Are touched by something

That will grow in you, in you

These are days you'll remember

When May is rushing over you with desire

To be part of the miracles you see in every hour

You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky

It's true that you

Are touched by something

That will grow and bloom in you

These are days

These are the days
That you might fill with laughter
Until you break
These days you might feel a shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
You'll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
You'll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and
Know they're speaking to you
To you

- Robert Buck & Natalie Merchant

One of the more pleasurable developments in our group dynamic is that as comfort levels have grown so has the willingness to start singing out loud when a song strikes, and for other riders to join in, filling in those words we can't remember, or making up new ones. Its just plain fun.

Today we completed our transit of Wisconsin, landing on the shores of Lake Michigan after 126 miles riding across flatter ground than yesterday but land which still is mighty good for growing hills.

Paul captured this short video as a pace line of Jon, Rod, me and Steve rode by some Amish folk in their Sunday best on their way to the meeting house:

These buggies have windshields: