This evening, the cool weather motivated me to take a bike ride around my home town.  As I was adjusting the seat to accommodate my abnormal length, I realized that this would be my first time to utilize this form of transportation since last fall when riding a bike was the only way I could get anywhere.  These are my observations:

• I was humored by (and grateful for) all the cars that took out grass on the other side of the road in order to afford me ample space as I took over the road.
• It was nice to have time to exchange a friendly “Hello. How are you?” with the guy mowing his lawn and the middle-aged couple holding hands taking a stroll.
• There is a creek alongside the road I travel almost every day.  The trees do a good job of veiling it.
• A metal bicycle faithfully transfers the magnitude of every pothole (and potholes are Ovilla’s pride).
• Fresh cut grass smells better than burnt gasoline.
• As I dismounted my bike and allowed my legs to resume their customary function, I realized how long 7 months is.

So that was my bike ride.  I might make this a habit, especially if the weather stays bearable.  I just wish bikes here could be used for more than just recreation.

And here’s the proof:

At the end of September (see right sidebar), Sammy and I will be taking an around-the-world trip.  We’ll first drive around the States, ending up in LA, and then fly to Australia and New Zealand with short stops in Fiji, Thailand, and Austria.  The trip will be a little less than 5 months.

While I was in Austria last Fall, Sammy kept asking me if I would want to take a trip around the world with him after I graduated and I kinda thought he was crazy.  For one, that’s a long time to be doing nothing official, secondly it would cost a lot of money, and thirdly it is kinda crazy.  Ever since then we’ve both been thinking about it and everything just seemed to work out for going.  So, that’s what we’re gonna do and we’re both pretty excited.  In the meantime, I’m saving my pennies.

In other news, I shaved my beard.  It’s already almost back so I’m at the critical point where I have to decide whether or not I’m going to revert to my natural bearded state.  What do you think?