Flying Dreams

"Thoughts Become Things" 

Drinking a Night Crawler India Dark ale from Flying Dreams Brewing Company in the Woo, and I read on the label (the art work of which looks like a cross between Mouse's legendary Grateful Dead illustrations, and Shaolin graffiti ) the slogan "Dream Big. Thoughts Become Things."

Say no more.

Let's see, I dream of a winter where it never snows, though it does get cold, cold enough to crisp up the air nice and clean and sharp. Where the deciduous trees, bereft of foliage, etch themselves proudly against a shamelessly naked landscape. When the daytime temperature strays into the 50s and the sun radiates down through a gossamer blanket of gauzy clouds. When traffic has, without explanation, forsaken the roads and a cyclist can sail along near the middle of the road, plenty of room on either side.

The dream came true, if only for a day. February 4, 2016 - more absurd warmth and spring-like conditions. The morphic resonant presence hums with benign complacency. It could all change in a day but for the moment of Thursday the 4th, six weeks after winter solstice with light lingering now in the sky 'til 5:00, the whole winter seems behind us.

I honestly didn't know yesterday, when I saddled up and set out, that winter would roar back to life just 8 hours later. As I slept into the wee hours this morning (which, being February 5, is also the anniversary of the onset of the infamous Blizzard of '78), light snow began to fall. By 7:00 heavy snow was falling steadily and at times with ferocity, and it kept up all morning. But that is a tale for another time.

As for yesterday, ride #6 of 2016 was an enjoyable 18.5 mile foray to the Reservoir and up South Rd and back, a ride marked by long vistas into the snow-less landscape, by dry roads, by pleasantly cool conditions for which I nailed the correct combination of tights, bibs, tops, wraps, gloves, paper bags, neck warmers, etc. Ka-ching, Kwai Chang Caine.

I opted to ride out of town via Institute Rd and the climb to Bancroft Tower. Standing and hammering the pedals with enthusiasm up the steep climb, at a point near the top I overtook a runner who then overtook me when I stopped to take the obligatory photo, and who continued right on past and up to the tower itself.

Bancroft Tower and runner, February 4, 2016

Then the plunge down the other side and through the neighborhoods -

Pine Tree Dr, Valley Hill Dr, Mabelle St, Kinnicutt St, Westbrook Rd, Richmond Ave, Aylesbury Rd, Moreland St, Walter St, Paradox Dr, Seconset St, Copperfield Rd, Grenada St, Rich St, Tory Fort Lane

- to get to Mower & Olean Sts. The dash to the reservoir and the race along the western edge at pace. Then the left onto South Rd for the familiar & beloved mile+ climb to the top in order to turn around and whir right back down. Woods bare of snow. Stone walls, gray green, recede up the wooded hillsides into vague distance. Crows crow-cackle in skeletal oaks, whimsy in their caws as if they too were happy to gambol about in such gentle weather.

I cawed them back in brotherhood. The brotherhood of Shad.

Bare woods of February 4th 2106 along the Holden reservoir

Lower Holden Reservoir, Feb 4, 2016

Dubstoevsky in European neck warmer, a gift of Scrodicus Frankfurtus
February 4, 2016