Excercise is Good For You!(?)

Went over to the Canal du Midi to ride and walk today. The canal runs through Castanet. It is a man made waterway that spans the length of southern France. It starts at the Atlantic and comes out at the Mediterranean. The cool thing is that most if not all the length of the canal is bordered on one or both sides by paved paths. The paths accommodate skaters, cyclists, joggers and walkers. In a few spot there are two paths running sided by side; a gravel path for slow foot traffic and a paved path for the wheelers. These bike paths are bordered by huge sycamore trees on both sides that offer shade in the summer and great fall color too. If you click on the link above it'll take you to a site that has some history about the canal also other links to places where you can rent a barge and travel the river. S and I have discussed the possibility of doing that. It sounds very fun and quite romantic.

This is the first time I’ve been on the old Bianchi in well let’s just say a long time. If I were to actually quantify how long it’s been Rich is likely to slap me upside the head the next time he sees me.

The ride was great, the path is smooth and wide enough to pass people and it’s pretty level only the tiniest bit of a grade in spots, usually near the locks. I really enjoyed how far you can go in so much less time than walking. But one mile into my great ride and my thighs started to kick up such a fuss I had to stop. I had to turn around and head back to S, who was walking the route.

‘Time to go home I said’. S had not walked far so he took a turn on the bike. It was hard not to laugh though as he pedaled away. He looked like a grown up trying to ride a tricycle. His long legs on my little bike, I would have laughed if I wasn’t in so much pain. When he came back I took another short ride this time the left thigh piped down but the right thigh was having none of it, it started to shake. Is it possible that I could be so out of shape. I walk. But I guess the riding uses muscles that haven’t been used in quite some time.

When we got home though, the rest of me was screaming for a real workout. My thigh, however, was threatening to strike if I pushed it one step further. I couldn’t just sit though because we all know that that would have been worse. So S and I went for a brief one mile walk through town, with a brief stop at my favorite bakery. My right thigh and butt cheek screamed the whole way and not even promises of buttery croissants would shut them up. Is it possible that I could possibly be in that bad of shape?

Now I’m going to have to take the bike out again tomorrow just to show my thighs and butt who's the boss. Assuming of course that I can get out of bed tomorrow, I fear they may have a meeting with other parts while I sleep and try to show me who's boss

Alright then, on the book front. I have just finished reading:

City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende. She is one of my favorite authors and she has written this book for young people. It’s about a young man and his coming of age during a dangerous and magical voyage into the Amazon with his paternal grandmother. It offers a picture of the simplicity of life of the natives. It gives an insight into how cultures can collide and how ancient cultures can be devastated by greed and mere curiosity. I really enjoyed it and Allende has a real knack for character development. Yeah, I know, yet another kids book. But I think you’ll like it. Allende is Chilean and has written many fabulous books. I loved The House of Spirits and if you get a chance and are able, read it in Spanish. The language is beautiful and you get a sense of how sometimes some nuances of meaning do not translate well.

That’s all for today. You'll notice that my page now has some blatant Amazon.com plugs. That’s where I get all my books, DVD’s and CD’s and I recently received an e-mail from them about this new program where I can get credit for stuff you buy from them through links on my page. So you know, I figured why not. There's absolutely no pressure for you all and a shameless plug for them. However, if you find that it’s completely offensive, let me know and I’ll quit putting the advertising links in my posts.