Trace The Mitten
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog

Happenings, Reflections, Ideas, Analysis

TRACE THE MITTEN

8 reasons It feels great to ride

8/17/2019

20 Comments

 
Today I went for a  68 mile ride.  Why do I do it?

Solitude:  Bike riding is a time for me to clear my mind; think through a problem:; have quiet time.  So much of our world has noise.  I use my car time to keep up on major news stories, weather and traffic.  At home I will listen to music during the day.   An hour or more provides the time to mentally clear the board.

Get my respiration up  We all typically breath shallow breaths.  Cycling get me breathing harder and that is good for my lung health.

Heart rate increases.:  My heart health improves with my activity.  I may have to stop the activity briefly  to stop the wheezing, my recovery time is shortening. 

A sense of accomplishment: Being able to go hour after hour is something that I can do now and I feel healthy.  I remember the days that I would walk from the bedroom and sit down at the kitchen table to catch my breath.  I am so thankful to be able to do this now.  I realize that at some point i will get sick and be set back.

Fresh air:  I was out in the forest  for most of my ride.  Near the end I could feel the oppressive odors.  I could smell the lawn fertilizer and the fumes from the traffic.  The temperature felt  hotter and the humidity added to the discomfort.  The moisture in the wood gave a coolness to the air.

Birds and butterflies:  Around most of our homes we do not see the butterflies.  I could hear a variety birds.  Near the house traffic noise drowns out the birds.  I can hear them in the morning at home.

Other natural life:  Today I saw wild turkeys, deer, rabbits, chipmunks, and a snake slithering across the asphalt path.

The runner high:  Exercise gets the brain to pump these hormones to make you happy.

Accomplishing a goal: and treats:  Today I set aside the time to complete this long ride.   I worked in some special stops to get a treat (ice cream, a drink, a special spot or whatever is good for you.)

Can you think of some others perks?
20 Comments

A ride on Belle Isle

8/10/2019

1 Comment

 

 Belle Isle is the largest  city owned in the country; nearly 1000 acres.  It is currently leases to the State of Michigan and is run as a State Park.

I am setting up a family bike tour day for the family in a couple of weeks and I wanted to map out the route.  Today was a good day to do that.  This trip took place on a Saturday evening and activities were still going strong, but by sunset the outdoor groups were closing down.  Outdoor open pavilions may be rented.  There is a half mile public beach.  Wedding receptions and other events going strong in the buildings. 

In several hours I traveled the roads through out the island and covered about 14 miles.  I am glad to see it now because there has been some flooding and roads have been closed. 

Enjoy the photo highlights of my exploration.
Picture
The Nancy Brown Peace Carillon is surrounded by a chain link fence. Too bad that we cannot get closer. No music anymore.
Picture
This police station was constructed in 1893. I love the stone. Those big doors are for the horses. This was a busy spot during prohibition.
Picture
Many of the structures dating from the early twentieth century are in need of much repair.
Picture
The slide looks like fun. Just sit down in a gunny sack and let gravity take over.
Picture
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Greenhouse and botanical garden.
Picture
The Belle Isle Aquarium. Opened in 1904 and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium when it closed in 2005. It reopened in 2012.
Picture
I found part of the road around the island closed to motorized traffic. Even one road was closed to bikes due to flooding.
Picture
Picture
There is no betting at this casino. A gala event was in progress,
Picture
The view from the northern tip of the island.
Picture
James Scott Memorial Fountain Read for yourself about the uproar about the gift to the city the resulted in this beautiful photo spot.
Picture
From the southern point you get a beautiful view of the Detroit skyline.
1 Comment

Rain, Dry, Sun and a new bridge

8/4/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
 I look forward to a good Sunday ride.  It had been awhile since I went to the local Metro Park.  There is a 6 mile loop around the lake.  Sometimes I will take the road the goes around the lake also. With Sunday traffic, I wanted to use the trail also.

​On the way  in I found these turkeys having a feast. 

Half way through the a downpour  popped up fast, but I found shelter under a pine.  Luckily it was not a thunderstorm and it did not last but a few minutes.  The wet pavement lasted the rest of the ride.

At my water stop the sun came out and  gave  a beautiful  scene. At the exit I see that they had  made a new protected bike path on the bridge over the highway.   Find photos in the day ride section.

​

0 Comments

    Author

    I love my riding days and look to find interesting and informative items to share.

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Lands End To John O' Groats
    MUP
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Route 66 Virtual Tour
    Sites During Rides
    Tour Prep
    Upper Peninsula
    Virtual Tour Yellowstone

    Pacific Coast Highway
    ​MUP

    RSS Feed

Home  |   About  |  Contact  |  Blog  |  Gallery  |  Links  |  Tours  |  Rides   
Trace the Mitten - Footer Icons
Proudly powered by Weebly
TraceTheMitten.com © 2014
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog