Bike Trips to Annapolis: 2 Emily: 1

With "little" going on next week I decided to take today as a personal day and see if I could finally find the trail from Baltimore to Annapolis (sadly I had failed miserably twice last fall - once because of a thunder and lightening storm and another due to poorly labeled trails). 

Either they had put up some new signs or I was actually paying attention this time because I had little trouble finding the B&A trail.  I soon realized that despite the fairly smooth terrain, the combination of wind (and no one to draft off) and having lost 2 pints of red blood cells it would be rougher than normal.  For reference that is like losing two containers of Ben and Jerry's.  It was going to be a plug and chug ride, but the weather was super nice so no complaints here.

One of the things I loved about last summer was the fact that you always had someone to talk with on the road.  Maybe that is why I have not done any major riding since the trip - no company. 

A couple miles into the B&A trail I noticed the planet walk instillation.  There is a giant sun sculpture at the beginning and each of the planet is placed proportionally far away.  The first few planets came pretty quickly, but I actually forgot about the instillation until I saw Saturn WAY, WAY WAY down the trail (it is nice to see that Pluto is still included).  If you want to get an idea of just how much riding you would have to do, check out this awesome Bill Nye video Susan, a fellow SUS'ian sent us a few weeks ago.  Bill and I can clearly be BFFs because I have the same Bianchi (or one very similar) in my basement. 

With so much time on my hand my head of course went to all things nursing.  As I was huffing puffing away I started to come up with some nursing diagnoses which correlated to my current situation:

• Impaired gas exchange related to altered oxygen-carrying capacity of blood as evident by dyspnea upon exertion
• Fluid volume deficit related to increased fluid loss as evident by dry mucous membrane
• Ineffective airway clearance related to decreased energy/fatigue as evident by changes in depth/ rate of respiration and expiratory wheezing

The was definitely worth it once I headed over the Naval Academy Bridge and saw the familiar town (we used to use Annapolis as day getaway in undergrad because of its proximity to DC).  Seeing the male military cadets walking around in their dress uniforms doesn't hurt either.  

I was all set to lock up my bike, grab a sandwich at my favorite sandwich place and walk around for a while, but realized that while brought my heavy duty U-lock, I forgot my key.  TYPICAL.  I did, however, find a couple of colonials who very nicely kept an eye on my bike as they were greeting visitors and I ran to get lunch. 

With about 10 miles to go until I got back within city limits, I came across two bikers who clearly had a flat and no tube.  After work/this summer I am a wiz at changing them and within no time had the guy patched up and he was good to go.  On a side note, if a rider stops in the middle of the ghetto, gives you a new tube/eats a Cliff bar and gives you the wrapper so you don't blow another tire and then changes said tire at least offer to reimburse the person for the tube.  No such dice here.