Three Things Thursday

• We have been having some crazy summer weather here.  It has been hot, hot, hot and humid.  My kind of summer!  For the past few days we have been having major thunderstorms in the afternoon and they are calling for another Boomer today.  Yesterday I came home to find that my patio furniture had been blown right off the deck.  Patio table, cast-iron umbrella stand, chairs, plants all scattered in various locations in my backyard.  The umbrella was over the cedar hedge and broken.  The wind even blew over my birdbaths!   Ahhhhh, you've got to love Mother Nature.

• Last weekend was the longest consecutive cycle I have ever done in my life.  An unsupported 250K through Up State New York.  We left from Kingston, Ontario taking a ferry across to Wolfe Island, cycled across the island to catch another ferry that would take us to the States.  We cycled from Cape Vincent to Sacket's Harbour, around the peninsula then off to Watertown where we stayed over night.  The next day was Watertown to Alexandria Bay.  Day three brought us back to the ferry to cross out of the United States back to Wolfe Island and then to Kingston.   Was I prepared for it?  Kinda, sorta.  What I wasn't prepared for was the speed of the other cyclists, the HILLS and not stopping for breaks every 20K, (that's for wimps).  What had been advertised as a 21 - 24K tour pace, turned into the other cyclists averaging 28 - 34+Km per hour.  Needless to say I was left in the dust, but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.  I did it and I'm very proud of myself for digging deep and mustering through it.  (report to follow).

• This coming weekend is the ride for the MS Society of Canada.  It is a fully supported 175K cycle tour and a cause which is close to my heart.  A former work colleague who became a great friend has MS and I'm cycling for her.    Having multiple sclerosis means that you may suddenly have blurry vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. Or that you may not always be able to walk, let alone ride a bike. The symptoms of MS are different, and devastating, for everyone - the only certainty is that it will affect yet another person every hour of every day. 
  If you find it in your heart to make a donation towards the MS Society of Canada, you can find my donation page here.   I THANK YOU in advance.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily