Ah, we have entered the truly entertaining portion of our DC area summer: the heat dome. Beginning yesterday we will have (at least) five consecutive days of temperatures above 90 degrees F. The F being a rather appropriate abbreviation. With DC’s wonderous summer humidity temperatures will feel like 110 to 115 degrees F. Or as we say hereabouts effing degrees.
I chose to do my normal Wednesday routine yesterday. I left home about 8:30 to clear the way for our housecleaning service and our lawn crew. I rode 15 miles here and there until I ended up at the gym. As I dismounted The Tank, I became aware that the breeze my bicycle riding had generated had disguised the fact that it was now 89 degrees and downright swampy.
Fortunately. the gym had its air conditioning set on Nome. I cooled down nicely despite lifting weights for 30 minutes or so. I use the term “lifting weights” rather liberally because I have to lower the weight on every machine after just about anyone else uses it.
80 pounds! No, that won’t do. Let’s try 45. Much better.
After shehulking, I walked back outside to my trusty steed. You know it’s hot when your bike is sweating. That’s all I’ll say. Off I rode, choosing only the most level ground I could find because I certainly didn’t need any help warming up on a climb. I rode for 15 more miles. Somewhere during the last five I entered the realm of the heat dome. Damn it was hot!/
I made it home and did some chores outside then retreated to the air conditioned splendor of my man cave. Absolutely nothing was going to coax be back out. The heat index was well over 100 effing degrees.
Today, I left home on Little Nellie at 8:30 for a quick trip to the supermarket. I brought one pannier and bought only a few items. When I put the pannier on the bike, it leaned ominously. Oops. I guess I should have bought a half gallon of milk instead. I rode at a slant a little over a mile back home. After putting things away, I took off for another 28 miles of blast-heat adventure.
I went from feeling quite comfortable to feeling nauseous then to feeling turmoil in my intestines. The once-cold water in my bottles was now warm enough to defrost frozen beef. Improbably, drinking it made me feel better. Alas, a few gulps and the comfort/nausea/turmoil sequence began anew.
I managed to make it through the ride and scrambled indoors. The temperature at the end of my ride just after noon was 99 degrees with a heat index of 112.
Tomorrow I plan on riding 15 miles to DC for some nice hot coffee in Georgetown. At 7 a. m. this should be manageable. Then back home in 85-degrees. Via the gym, of course. With any sort of luck I’ll avoid the ER which is conveniently located 1/2 mile from home.
Temperatures over the next two days are supposed to be a couple of degrees higher. I’ll be celebrating Independence Day inside, napping on the couch, dreaming of snowcrete and weeks of subfreezing temperatures.
Stay toasty, my friends.
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 