When I told people what we were doing, they would ask what route we were going to take across the country. When I informed them we would fly west and cycle east, their response was always the same, "Oh good, the wind will be at your back."
Since we've been cycling we have had the wind at our backs, and in our fronts, and slamming us sideways, and even had our own "Auntie Em, Auntie Em" moment (rumour has there will be more in Kansas. Appropriate) These winds have names: headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds. But the exciting part is that you can have variations of each: a head - crosswind, a tail - crosswind, or a combination of the two given the terrain.
Today was another climbing day. The climbs just are...you have to get philisophical about that. But the winds take your breath away. We weigh around 400 pounds (the bike is fortyish, divide the rest,and be kind). The wind can take us and push us sideways, or forward, or back despite our human force. It truly is the force of nature.
The amazing thing about it is the vegetation and critters are all adaptable to it. And the sound. The sound of the wind truly howling through mountain passes and ridges, and even through our wheel spokes...that's mighty.
When I told people what we were doing, they would ask what route we were going to take across the country. When I informed them we would fly west and cycle east, their response was always the same, "Oh good, the wind will be at your back."
Since we've been cycling we have had the wind at our backs, and in our fronts, and slamming us sideways, and even had our own "Auntie Em, Auntie Em" moment (rumour has there will be more in Kansas. Appropriate) These winds have names: headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds. But the exciting part is that you can have variations of each: a head - crosswind, a tail - crosswind, or a combination of the two given the terrain.
Today was another climbing day. The climbs just are...you have to get philisophical about that. But the winds take your breath away. We weigh around 400 pounds (the bike is fortyish, divide the rest,and be kind). The wind can take us and push us sideways, or forward, or back despite our human force. It truly is the force of nature. 
Roberta,
ReplyDeleteSunday morning in Time With the Children, for Pentecost, I talked about the wind. We looked through the windows and watched the wind rustle the leaves. Matias said sometimes the wind can sound like large rocks rumbling down the side of a hill. When you come back to NH, you will need to tell him about the wind in the western mountains and canyons. Keep the faith!
Bob
The Annual Church Yard Sale is over (just the piles in the parking lot to pick up and a 100 out of place things inside the church to put away), and I thought it was hard. The ride you and Jeff are on puts the whole Yard Sale week madness in perspective.
Your pictures are great and remind us eastern folk how diverse the USA landscape is, and is not all green leafy forests.