The Length of a Century

102 miles. We biked it. In 90 degree heat, we bested metropolitan Atlanta traffic and navigated rural Georgia to reach Heflin, Alabama in time for amazing home-cooked fried chicken dinner. It wasn't all gravy though...it was a crazy day. Everything started brilliantly...cruising into lunch early, finding an odd Podunk museum, and savoring a local ice cream shoppe's $1 cones. Their blueberry cheesecake flavor: simply succulent. Cycling takes you to novel places like Bremen, GA, a small one street old railroad town. Meandering around town, I decided to walk into the City Hall. I was amused and amazed that the mayor's office shared a glass wall with the lobby. Any resident can see his/her elected public official at work at their leisure. If only government were so transparent at all levels...

As the day waned on, Jake and I cruised ahead, talking about community service, neighborhoods, and the peculiar sheared llamas we saw alongside the road. Things were going swimmingly as we joined up with some other riders to cruise the windy "rural-urbia." It all happened in an instant. Like many times before, a group of dogs saw our fleet of cycles and charged barking fiercely. Startled by their approach, one of our riders Anne, veered left and accidentally into a nearby rider Justin. With unfortunate speed, they tumbled together to the pavement. While Justin hopped up with only a hip scrape, Anne was left with sizable shiner and a finger needing stitches. Both were safe and without serious injuries, but the scare was real. Cycling can be dangerous, and with longer riders, concentration and energy can run low, making accidents like these much more likely. We all will strive to stay vigilant and focused over the miles ahead.

While an accident is no laughing matter, even Anne couldn't help but be amused at the rural Georgia response to our precautionary ambulance call. First an Ambucare car arrives, with an EMT in dress pants and shined shoes daintly came and surveyed the situation. Next, the fire truck came with full sires. Its disheveled driver asked Anne's name, proceeding to record in by writing it on his hand in pen. Trying to hide my shock, I offered him some paper, to which he said 'nah, this'll do." Finally, the ambulance came to take her away. Note by this time three neighbors offered their help, advice, or blackeye size comparison analysis ('looks like a golfball from here). Got to love small towns.

Tomorrow we head into Birmingham, which will be a 87 mile adventure. Like much of our routes, this winds through backstreets to make for easier riding, but adds nearly 20 miles to the start-end distance. I am excited to get back on the saddle!

All of my time in Alabama is devoted to Grandma Betty, who donated an exceedingly generous sum to the affordable housing cause. She remains my Washington expert, the woman I know to call to get the pulse of national politics. The matriarch of the Kole household, my Grandma takes on a wide array of responsibilities to help her children and grandchildren have happier, healthier lives. I love her very much and thank her for everything she has done for me.