From Birth to Bike

Yesterday we had a visit from a lactation consultant. These women are in my opinion angels personified. Fiona’s latch became firm and true, and Dena made sure the milk bar wasn’t too overwhelming. As a result Dena (and Fiona) got 4 hours uninterrupted sleep.

So begins day one of my four weeks of fitness. It began a few days late I admit, but what you gonna do?

When I lived at Eastlands, Eastlands Road, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, “The Woods” started at the side of my house and ran to the town of Rothesay. By the age of seven I could ride its length (about 3 miles) and meet my mother and grandma for cold pancakes/crumpets and a coke, then drive home- the bike secured in the boot/trunk. Even today I still have dreams about that ride, sometimes good, sometimes bad. It was a chance I had to be alone: trusted to make my way and achieve over; and my mother trusting that no one would stop me. Such were the times on a Scottish island 16 miles by 4 in the 1960’s. I doubt if our children will get the same chance.

The memory lives on in me. and I decided that given my locale, having a go at mountain biking was probably a good way to use my talents, re-live the dream and get fit. So today while Alexander was at school and after Dena and I had lunch, I gave it a go for 30 minutes. My route was indeed overly ambitious but I had decided on this route 4 years ago, having driven Alexander up a hill to get him off to sleep. El Sereno Open Space reserve sits on the South West side of Los Gatos.
http://maps.google.com/?ll=37.219052,-122.024567&spn=0.025392,0.036306&t=h
Wow! That view was awesome! I could see the sea. Now it is time to work out, and get up to being able to do this for real without feeling like I am going to die