Weekend (8/5)

I finally went for that bike ride! The thing that got me out the door was the fact that on Friday evening, I resorted to eating nutella straight from the jar while watching Family Feud. That night I also went to bed at 5:30pm, so I figured I should be a little more decent.

Yesterday I also stuffed myself at the Norfolk farmer's market. That grass-fed pork and those organic tomatoes made for one serious BLT. Also, there's a baker there that's got the golden touch. Ugh, those cookies, like heaven... the buttercream frosting...

Stopping.

Anyway, farmer's market. Used book store. Bike ride!

Riding a bicycle is my favourite means of transportation. Rolling down the road, gravel or pavement or dirt, I feel like I could go anywhere, as far as I wanted to where ever I wanted. It's an exercise that makes me wonder at the human body. As legs pump pedals and push forward, cell cycles turn in my head. The tired ache after a good ride is always welcome.

So I headed out to feel these things, to see what the refuge was like when I didn't have to work, when I didn't have a pane of glass between me and the green. Headed out towards Railroad ditch, an early burn started up in the side of my thighs and in my lungs. I guess I should have realized after a two month break from my wheels I'd be a little rusty. But I went ahead, the air was perfect for a ride. Cool, but not cold. The humidity left only a mild film of sweat on my skin, which was comfortable at my speed.

The swamp seemed so much more alive- I was able to get closer to the animals before they took off into the brush. I could see the marks left on the gravel by the hooves of a doe I startled coming down the road. Bird and bugs alike sounded crisper, and the colors brighter.

As I went, I studied the landscape, seeking the blues in the greens and the reds in the browns. I made picture frames with my fingers and captured the sun in my hands. The gravel made for difficult travel at first. Every time I would try to pick up speed I would hit a loose pocket and the back wheel would slide from under me.

I rode out to the lake as the shadows grew long and longer. I had set out a little before seven, and it took me forty minutes to ride the handful of miles to get there. I took my time, studying the vegetation growing up in the burned area on my sides. The dark brown flowers of the rushes looked like draped lace along the green of the grasses. Cattails speckled the view like pepper, and as I cruised I scared some wood ducks half to South America. They took off from the ditch, squawking and quaking as their little tails wiggled behind them.

I spent time at the lake on the board walk, watching the sun slowly sink into the sky. I crept up on a dragonfly with a wingspan as large as the span of my hand. It was bright green, and its translucent, veined wings were notched at the bottom, as if chewed up by life. I studied the hexagonal ommatidium, for a brief moment I thought I saw myself reflected in those lenses. I started when it flew away.

I raced the setting sun home, losing. Towards the end my ride was a little dark, the greens turned to greys and I jumped at every sound. It seemed like the bugs were especially fond of flying into my face the darker it got. By the time I made it back to the quarters, my hands were more sore than the rest of me, which was pleasantly surprising.

Today I made it out to Back Bay, the refuge in Virginia Beach. It's a coastal refuge, hugging the beach and beach communties. I'm staying in the Admin. building, and the building itself has been converted from a house, it sits on the side of a body of water. I've been entertaining thoughts of living in a house of similar size and grace. It's really, really nice.

I also got out to the beach, because I always get a little freaked out when I stay somewhere by myself. I hadn't intended on swimming, but I ended up rolling around in the water anyway. The people on the beach probably thought I was pretty strange, hanging out at the beach by myself. That's alright, I enjoyed myself just fine- it's been about a year since I've visited the beach properly. The spray of the water and the temperature was familiar. The feeling of sand and shell and sea grit under my feet reminded me of being in Panama City.

Tomorrow! I'll be at the refuge working with the biologists, and in the evening, the Americorps team might join me at the beach. Pictures to come!