Turning the corner on the new year allowed me to back off the biking for a few days.
Okay. Okay. One day.
I watched a bunch of movies with my wife and daughter. We went around DC looking at holiday light displays such as Georgetown Glow and a disappointingly unlit display in Yards Park. We had dinner at a tavern in Petworth with #bikedc friends. I finally got to see my friend Rachel’s string trio (the Tocatta Players) who were playing for the customers. Rachel surprised us by putting down her viola and singing three songs. (She crushed “Santa Baby”.)
On New Years Day we moved my daughter into her new apartment 15 miles away. This involved moving a van load of stuff including a full size mattress and bed, a full size sofa, and some other somewhat lighter stuff. I am shocked that we pulled it off in only a few hours without any orthopedic injuries. We lucked out when a tenant at her apartment building helped us with the sofa. (Thanks, Emmett.)
We started a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Emphasis on “started”.
I replaced the fan and motor to two noisy bathroom ceiling fans. (Not exactly brain surgery, but still…)
I put a very small dent in Michael Beschloss’s Presidents of War.
And I did go for a couple of bike rides on New Years Day and today. On both days I expected to ride only 20 miles but ended up going 30, aches and pains from the move notwithstanding.
I spotted an interesting map on Facebook yesterday. It’s from a charity bike tour of Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Around 4,000 miles with a number or national parks that I have (Yellowstone) and haven’t (Yosemite, Redwoods, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Glacier) been to.
I need to do more research to see how this overlaps with Adventure Cycling routes which would simplify logistics for a solo bike tour. Stay tuned.
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 
Looks like a good start on that Puzzle. Happy New Year!
It’s tradition for those of us who ride a lot, to find reasons to ride. New Year, solstice, full moon, flag day, or any other day that has a theme. Touring is a different breed. My tours are with #3 son who works, so we are limited. We are going to do our third Erie Canal ride this summer. He takes a week off from the racing circuit in Austin just to slow down a bit, (well a lot).
I’ve done the Erie Canal and loved it.