In a few days I will have been away for a month. This is the longest stretch of time I have ever been away from home. With so much being different about my life here it seems like I have been here longer. Just yesterday I was wondering if I would “make it” here the entire three months. I am tired of the food already. Unlike in the 90’s, the food is not as tasty, and surprisingly less nutritious. Yet, it is certainly not awful, just boring. And my tent situation is currently not optimal. Three nights week hey have desert-and I have yet to be able to resist them on most nights. So my plan of losing weight may backfire!
Today I left campus for the first time and rode my bike into Rhinebeck. This is a 20 minute car ride-I however don’t know how long it took me. Given how hilly it is here I was doubtful I would make the entire trip. But I did it! Years of pushing myself aerobically in outrigger canoeing and recently capoeira must have helped. I was lucky to get mostly down hills the way there; but the way back was a doozy. I literally fantasized about having giant hamstrings and quads (what I think of as German athlete legs) to help me get up the hills. Sorry Lance I am no longer using you for inspiration…And I only walked my bike once each way. Go 49 year olds!
Even though I was on larger roads with a smattering of cars, the ride was lovely. Dutchess County is full of lush rolling farmlands dotted with fields and the occasional horse farm. Daisies, Day lilies, Queen’s Anne Lace and other wildflowers abound; and every day robins, catbirds, and crows serenade me. Of course there exists a full complement of insects. A plethora of beautiful moths and butterflies, bees busy with their work, weird wasp like beings that drag around these dangerous and foreboding looking hanging structures and other assorted large creatures that usually end up flying into your face and scaring you just a little. And let’s not forget the many biting mosquitoes, which for the most part leave me alone, and their brethren the spiders, daddy long legs and caterpillars.
The trees are currently full and green; mostly oak and pine I think. And today was gorgeus, sunny after a full day of rain yesterday. At one point a beautiful deer jumped across the road in front of me –astonishing me with the strength of its body. I hooted and wooped aloud with the sheer beauty of being able to ride my bike in such splendor. Being outside like this is a strong tonic for me.
I rode by lovely farmhouses, regular ranch types and in Rhinebeck, cute Victorians. Rhinebeck was founded in 1766 and is the home of the oldest American Inn –The Beekman Arms. It was nice to be in civilization for a bit. I did an errand and traipsed around the small streets before heading off. I just made it back to campus before a thunderstorm blew in. Again I was able to do something that I don’t get the opportunity to do in Brooklyn-stand in nature (well to tell the truth it was inside the doorway of our staff laundry room-but it’s sort of in the woods) and watch the storm clouds roil and skate. I always find thunderstorms enjoyable when I can be “close” to them like that.
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