Me and My Shadow

It's taken weeks of dedication, but I have finally lost all my tan.  Okay, maybe not all, but I can go out in a bathing suit now without the tri-tone thighs.  I apply sunscreen on both sides of my body, instead of the one side that gets the sun throughout an entire day on the bike.

 One of the things I notice is the play of shadows now as both time of year and location have started to shift for us. 

On tour, shade was a rare commodity,
so our our shadows were small, close and tight.

Out east, our shadows loom long and dark, while out west - they were barely a mark on the pavement.

Now as I wander, once again on two feet instead of two wheels - my image is set. 
In Peter Pan, the Darling children are always losing their shadows,
Peter cries when his runs away, and Wendy knows how attach them. 
There are theories out there as to the meaning of those shadows - whether images of childhood innocence and fantasy or the premonition of pending adulthood and it's responsibilities. 
All I know, is when we're riding, we're flying...and for the moment - we won't grow up.

 

Landing

It has been exactly fifty six days since we have landed home from "tour".  But who's counting?
In this time Jeff and I have, as best we could, returned to our lives...
I won't even use the word "normal".
This transition has included family events and visits, large and small,
countless emails and meetings, fulfilling job obligations whether
new business - old business - or fix it business,
 and the feeble attempts to get back in the saddle, while resisting the pull of the "have to's".
We are exceptionally good at "shoulding" on ourselves.

We have been asked if we had fun on our trip.  
Honestly, I just don't know how to answer that.
I know this - I am so thankful to have done what I did,
have seen what I have, and met who I have.
Wise Tracy had mentioned a time or two, that the tour
changes people.
Sometimes it's an immediate change;
I no longer eat meat - thanks Dalhart, TX.
Sometimes it takes the passing of time to be able to discern
what changes have occurred.

I spend more times outdoors.  I have a choice of underwear and shoes.
Jeff can go in the lake. Jeff can go for his runs.
We have an endless supply of fresh vegetables.
We no longer have an automatic refill of Chamois Cream.
Our endurance is better.
Our family has access to us again.

However - at least once a week, one of us verbalizes what
we both have thought at least a couple times to ourselves...
it was easier on tour.
It has been exactly fifty six days
since we have landed home from "tour".
But who's counting?