The Finish Line is in Sight

 

Riding 300 miles for the American Cancer Society has been one of my main goals for the month of October. I am very excited about it and after yesterday's ride, the finish line is in sight. I estimate that I will complete the 300 miles in three more rides. 

Crossing the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
October 18, 2024

Yesterday's 21.15 mile ride brought me to 246.44 miles logged for the month. That leaves me with 53.56 miles to go. 

Yesterday was a cool, overcast day. I was surprised how cool the day was with temperatures in the low 70s. I have become used to riding with temperatures in the 80s and accompanying "feels like" temperatures in the mid- to high-90s, I rode my usual route, with a couple additional loops to get over 20 miles. Today, I have another route that I will ride, just to provide a change of scenery. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 21.15 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 246.44 miles. I expect to ride about 20 miles even with the windy overcast conditions. I have 53.56 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Windy Walk on the Beach

Rough and Wind Blown Atlantic Ocean
Jupiter Island, FL
October 17, 2024

 Chris and I had not been to the beach in a couple weeks and so we decided to head out for a stroll on the sand. Arriving on the stairs atop the dunes, we saw a wind blown and gray angry ocean. It was rough. We had a boat reserved for yesterday, but based upon the weather we canceled the reservation and that was confirmed as a good decision. 

Shorebirds along the Beach
Jupiter Island, FL
October 17, 2024

We walked the beach for a while. The beach was wide and easy to navigate. The recent storms transformed the beach into a wide open space and the dunes now towered above us. There were many sea birds searching for a meal. We enjoyed watching multiple ospreys and pelicans along with the smaller shorebirds.

Finnegan joined us on the walk. He was startled by the occasional pieces of sea foam which blew across the sand. It was a funny scene as he jumped out of the way. But he most enjoyed the birds. He wanted to play with them, but Chris kept him on his leash so that he would not disturb them.

We stayed for a while, but it seemed cool, the temperature was 75 degrees, but with the wind and low humidity the "feels like" temperature was closer to 70 degrees. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to the winds. Thus far, I have logged a total of 225.29 miles. I expect to ride today even with the windy conditions. I have 74.71 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Under a Hundred

Looking North from Bridge Road Drawbridge
Hobe Sound, FL
October 16, 2024

 I have been able to log quite a few miles for the American Cancer society ride. I am within 75 miles of achieving the 300 miles for the month! I am pretty excited about reaching that goal. 

Yesterday, I rode 23.19 miles and I took a different route from my normal biking area. I rode north to the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve. There is a nice beach there which we have not visited lately, but it is a great place to stop on my ride because they have restroom facilities. 

One of the exciting aspects of heading north to the preserves is that I get to enjoy riding alongside SE Bridge Road. The road is covered with banyan trees and it is a joy to bike under their branches. The fairly recent installation of a sidewalk along side the roadway means that I no longer have to dodge traffic on the fairly narrow road.

The first six or so miles of the ride are challenging because I ride along US-1 and there are a lot of hills. OK, there are a lot of hills as compared to most of the places I ride in Florida. And three miles of the ride are in the narrow bike lane alongside of the highway. But, after arriving into Hobe Sound the ride becomes much more enjoyable and less traveled. The southerly portion  of the trip is along Beach Road on Jupiter Island and the fun is looking at the estates and seeing how the rich people live. Many of the homes were in the process of being opened for the imminent "Snow Bird" returns. 

I did the ride in 1h47m, which is really good. That included a stop at the beach to look out into the ocean. Now that the weather is cooling, into the 70s, I may tackle this ride a bit more. The challenge comes at the end in the form of the Beach Road Drawbridge.  Coming at about 21 miles into the ride, it has a significant uphill. 

It was a beautiful day and a fun ride. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 23.19 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 225.29 miles. I do not expect to ride today due to the windy conditions. I have 74.71 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It is Important - VOTE!

 

Apparently voters in Georgia are fully aware of the importance of this election cycle in determining the future of our nation and society. They showed up in droves yesterday to vote--on the first day of early in-person voting in the state. According to CNN reporting, over 328,000 votes were cast in Georgia yesterday breaking the old first day record of 136,000 from 2020. 

I think that response is great. It means people are taking this election seriously. The first day of early voting in Florida is next Monday, the 21st. Chris and I are both planning to be in line to vote on that day. With the swirl surrounding mail-in voting, we want to be sure our votes count. 

So my encouragement is to get out and VOTE! I think the choice is clear. I heard it summarized best yesterday by a voter in Georgia, it is a choice between sanity and insanity. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 21.52 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 202.10 miles. I expect to ride today. I have 97.9 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Look What's Following Me

Rolls in the Rearview
Tequesta, FL
October 15, 2024

 I was driving to a friend's house yesterday and I was totally surprised when looked into my rearview mirror. There it was, a huge road boat in the form of a very modern looking Rolls Royce. I see them often, but have never, until yesterday, seen a Rolls SUV. I snapped an image with my Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. It was a bit creepy how big the thing was. And they were driving a bit aggressively. 

Stock Photo 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

I did some research. It was a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, listing for some $400,000. Ugh. I'm not sure I have enough insurance if I get into an accident with that thing. It had better be their fault. I'm guessing the one behind me was the 2020 version. 

Well that was some exciting activity for the day. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 15.15 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 180.58 miles. I expect to ride again today because for the first time in some weeks the sky is blue and cloud free. I have 119.42 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - October 14, 2024

 

1. The second Monday of October is upon us and the year is drawing to a rapid close. Believe it or not, there are but 11 Mondays remaining in 2024. 

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-2 with Chiefs and Dolphins getting a week off. The Cowboys failed to show up for their game.

Cowboys (3-3) were run out of town by Lions (4-1), 9-47

Steelers (4-2) stifled Raiders (2-4), 32-13  

Ravens (4-2) won a hard fought victory over 

Commanders (4-2), 30-23

Dolphins (2-3) and Chiefs (5-0) were on a bye.

3.  For the first time since 1960, both Army and Navy are nationally ranked college football teams in the same week.

4. Trump’s message in Aurora, a city that has become a central part of his campaign speeches in the final stretch to Election Day, marks another example of how the former president has escalated his xenophobic and racist rhetoric against migrants and minority groups he says are genetically predisposed to commit crimes. The supposed threat migrants pose is the core part of the former president’s closing argument, as he promises his base that he’s the one who can save the country from a group of people he calls “animals,” “stone cold killers,” the “worst people,” and the “enemy from within.” (Politico)

Fire Pit
Tequesta, FL
October 13, 2024

5. Last evening Chris and I enjoyed some wine around our portable fire pit. It was finally cool enough in the evening for us to light the fire pit and enjoy the ethanol fueled flame. We used the calming effect to get over the lopsided loss suffered by the impotent Cowboys. It was a very difficult game to watch and we tuned out during the 4th quarter when it became apparent that the Cowboys had gotten lost on their way to the stadium and another team was substituted for them.

6. Today in History. October 14, 1947. U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Yeager, born in Myra, West Virginia, in 1923, was a combat fighter during World War II and flew 64 missions over Europe. He shot down 13 German planes and was himself shot down over France, but he escaped capture with the assistance of the French Underground. After the war, he was among several volunteers chosen to test-fly the experimental X-1 rocket plane, built by the Bell Aircraft Company to explore the possibility of supersonic flight.

The US will send an advanced anti-missile system — and troops to operate it — to Israel - CNN

‘I talk about moving daily’: Florida residents weigh whether to leave after destructive storms - CNN

The largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission is set to launch today - CNN

Israeli minister denounces UN peacekeepers as fighting rages - Reuters

SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test - Reuters

Oil falls over 2% as China demand woes erase last week's gains - Reuters

Scale of Chinese Spying Overwhelms Western Governments - The Wall Street Journal

Worldwide Efforts to Reverse the Baby Shortage Are Falling Flat - The Wall Street Journal

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 20.31 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 165.43 miles. I expect to ride today. I have 134.57 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back in the Saddle for Cancer

Palm in Turtle Creek
Tequesta, FL
October 12, 2024

 The bad weather cleared and I took the opportunity to get back into the saddle and ride for cancer. It was a very nice morning and I rode over 20 miles. 

There were only two places where I had to made serious diversion because of hurricane related problems. One was a badly flooded sidewalk and the other were limbs that were too low to ride underneath. Otherwise, it was a beautiful day. 

It felt good to be back out on the street. I followed an old favorite route for the first couple miles. I had changed up the beginning due to traffic and yesterday confirmed that I like my newer and less trafficked route.

It is kind of gray this morning, but I feel confident that I will be able to get in another good ride.  

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 20.21 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 145.12 miles. I expect to ride today. I have 154.88 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Walking in the Rain

Raining on US-1 from under my hat
Tequesta, FL
October 11, 2024

 Happy Columbus Day!

Is that even a thing anymore?

Why would anyone actually decide to go out for a walk in the rain? I'm not sure anyone would, without more than a good reason. 

And yet, I with even less than a good reason wound up walking in the rain. 

I had decided not to bike because of the threatening rainclouds, but Chris and I instead chose to walk Finnegan. We have a regular about 1.4 mile route around the block and headed out with Finnegan in the lead. 

Big mistake! 

Halfway around the block the skies opened up and we had to take refuge for a while under an awning. Once the severity of the downpour abated, we charged out into the light rain to make our way home. Of course we were as far from home as the route takes us. Arriving home we were cold and wet and wondering why we had decided to try to go for a walk. It took Finnegan over an hour to warm up. 

Sometimes we make poor choices and have to suffer the consequences. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to rain and debris. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I expect to ride today. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Clean-up and Cool

Knight Anole
Tequesta, FL
October 10, 2024

 The massive destruction across Florida from Hurricane Milton is only now beginning to be understood. 

Chris and I and our little condo community were very lucky. No major damage and, frankly, aside from a couple fronds and branches, no damage at all. We went over to a friend's house yesterday, they are out of town, to assess damage and they, like us, escaped damage. There were a lot of branches in their yard, but no damage. 

Last evening, as we were sitting on the veranda enjoying the dryer and cooler air that followed the hurricane, we spied a large knight anole on the tree in our yard. It was the first time we had identified this species of lizard in our yard. It was a large lizard, about 12-13 inches in length. It sat on the tree for a great while and I believe it may have decided that our yard is its territory. That may not be a bad thing as they eat bugs and even other lizards. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to debris, winds, and clean-up operations in the area. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Morning After the Storm

The Morning After Milton Palm Tree
Tequesta, FL
October 10, 2024

 Although we were not in the hurricane force winds of Milton, we experienced some significant gusts of around 60 mph overnight. The worst seemed about 2:30 AM when both Chris and I were awakened by the howling of the gusts across the storm shutters. We turned on the television for a few minutes to check the progress of the storm. And then, we let the sounds of the wind sing us back to sleep. 

There is widespread damage in the area. I just received a call from the Tequesta Emergency Operations Center advising that we should not drive due to multiple downed power lines. Chris and I are fortunate in that thus far we have not lost power. We are happy to have come through the storm in tact. We will remain in the tropical storm force wind cone for a few more hours, but by this afternoon we should be able to get out and see the community. 

We were very fortunate. There were over 130 tornado warnings issued yesterday. We were lucky that none directly affected us. I do not know how many actual tornados there were, but I know there were multiple tornados and there is a lot of tornado related damage. We were under a tornado watch all day however and a tornado passed about 8 miles from our condo.

We will not head into the areas where we know there is a lot of damage. The last thing they need are "lookie-loos."

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to tornado watches and warnings in the area. I will not attempt to ride today due to debris. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL