Saw Edy's Spirit in the CWE

It was a magical moment. And sometimes I think those moments can only happen to me when I am alone. Maybe I recognize or pay more attention without the distraction of others's voices.

I was riding from the CWE on my way to the Riverfront to meet up with friends for a ride up the trail near the river. I stopped at Einsteins to get my favorite cinnamon sticks. For a moment I was feeling disappointment because while waiting patiently in line with helmet, colorful Italian jersey (bulging pack pockets) and gloves on, I didn't see them in their usual place. I had easy view too, looking over the head of a very short, slight stout, visor capped lady about, I'd say in her 80's.

With relief in hand - my cinnamon sticks - in toll I paid and head out the door to the black rodiron tables, chairs and fense where I chained my bike. At the next table the little lady set facing me eating her bagel. I was compelled to talk to her for some reason rather than the two obviously gay guys at the table behind me. Well, for one thing they were engaged in conversation and she was sitting there alone.

I brought up the weather. It was a lovely morning, bright and crisp, after a stormy past evening and night. She was delighted and very engaging. She asked how far I was going to ride. And as I pulled away mounting my bike suggested I be careful. A few yards down the
street - it suddenly hit me "that was Edy" and I chocked up and wanted to cry - but only for a second. It was a magical moment that I carry with me today.

I know they are magical moments because my heart is lifted and duh, they feel magical!

I had a great time too meeting up with my two friends and got to get some one on one conversation with them. I appreciated T's interest in the industrial areas and how salt was being scouped from a barge and moved over our heads and loading onto tractor trailer trucks that moved forward every few minutes when the driver heard the beep.

Later on she wondered if the coal filled new alluminum train cars were headed out or coming in to have their payload transferred vis elevated conveyor onto barges. I thought perhaps since they were still sitting there they were in wait of being transferred to barges. Because if heading out they may have already been railed out of the yard. Well, it was just a gut feeling. A hunch! Sometimes my hunches work out pretty good though.

We had a great ride including a snake sighting that scared the hell out of T. I saw it first and rode slighty up ahead to head it off and scare it back into the grass, off the trail. She otherwise had no way to avoid it. It was too late and too close for her to maneuver around it. Which was another reason while, me being on the left of her, got up ahead in the left lan. The snake really had to where to go the way it was headed with tongue flashing out of all five feet of it, for there was a large concrete wall in it's way across, to my left, of the path. We probably did it a favor scaring it back into the grass. Oh he raised up and turn around quickly!

I love animals. Yesterday when I rode with others, we saw a large snapping water turtle with a crocodile tail along the trail. He was rather far from the river and the bridge. I guess with the water out slightly and the ground so saturated it is easy for them to wander further around from their normal roam.

See the spirit of Edy was magical and I guess the main magical moment of the weekend. However ,in thinking back there were actually quite a few magical moments to enjoy and treasure.

Hey, just being able to ride 43 miles on Saturday and riding 53, including a 5k run, on Sunday, it magical in itself. I am dang blessed and lucky and I know it. I have wonderful ambition, physical strength and stamima and desire. That right there is a winning attitude to health.