Take a Ride with Me

I have written before about escaping. When I lived in Tennessee it was a lot easier to just get in my car, drive into the mountainous area where my favorite lake was, lose cell service, and hide for a weekend. Living back in Ohio has made it a little more difficult to escape to anywhere. Life has been very crazy this summer.

One of my best friends and I, however, found a great escape. We kept saying we wanted to work out, which I've even stated on my 30 before 30 list that I wanted to work out more, and we found a way that wasn't too much or too little.

Bicycling

There's a bike trail that runs north and south about 2 miles from where I live so we ride over to the trail and usually head north to get a little exercise and catch up on our gossip. I have found this to be a wonderful outlet. In the beginning we called it our BBR's (Bestie Bike Rides). Now I just call it a bike escape. 

When my friend can't go with me, I plug in my headphones to my iPod and ride. Sure I use it for exercise but on the last few rides I've just used it to get out of my own damn brain. 

Sometimes I think we all just need to unplug. 

Whether you're thinking about a sick parent, an ex that's left you in a complete state of confusion, work, or anything else in life that has you stressed... I feel as if the air, the sun and the ride itself just helps. 

It's when on the trail that I close my eyes for a second(try not to lose my balance), take a deep breath (trying not to inhale a bug/fly), and reopen, that I realize how invigorating the ride truly can be. 

The exercise is fabulous but for a brief moment the air is cool in the shade and a quick smell of fresh country apples hits my nasal passage as I pass an apple tree. The critters... I swerve and nearly crash my bike to miss them when they jump out from the woods and I gasp in excitement.  Passing the cornfield on the long open stretch where the sun beats on me most, where I happen to pick up the most speed, is such a picturesque scene. Riding to the wildlife scenic deck just to pause and enjoy the swampy area as the sun starts to set. When my iPod plays the perfect songs the entire ride and I have the burn in my stomach and the sting in my eyes of wanting to cry because of that music, but instead I push myself harder to pedal. All the while I curse the sweat bees, wind, and hills every chance I get. 

The end, when I get off of my bike and look like baby Bambi who completely forgot how to walk. Those seconds where I'm chugging my water to regain even a little strength. That.... That my friends, is determination, dedication, and down right tiring in the good way! It's worth it. To have those few hours of 20-30 miles each time is the best escape I've found. Maybe it's the scenery. Maybe it's the music. Perhaps it's the endorphin's flooding my body that gives me the high of my getaway. Whatever it is, I am simply happy that I found it.