adventure daily.
My first chemo session (which, for lack of a better word, is what I’ll call the 2 weeks following each treatment) has been a breeze physically compared to what I expected. The day of treatment I started to feel a little weird a couple hours after my infusion ended. My stomach started to hurt and …
I didn't feel like riding when I rolled out of bed. I'd stayed up a little too late the night before watching a movie. Too late these days is 10 pm --- ideally I am in bed at 8:30, listening to a podcast until I fall asleep, which usually happens quickly. Over the past few …
Back in mid-December, we got a snowstorm that dumped about a foot of snow and was amazingly not followed by an inch of freezing rain as seems to be the norm the last few years. This meant that we actually had some time to enjoy pristine, fluffy powder before the inevitable melting or ice crust …
I was approximately 4 miles into a planned 40-ish-mile ride when the headwind reared its ugly head. I found myself needing to pedal hard to keep moving forward --- on a downhill. 40 miles of this would get old fast, and somehow it always seems like no matter what direction you're going, the wind is …
Increasingly, I am finding meaning in the milestones marked by the turning of the earth more than those rooted in human culture. While Christmas and the 4th of July offer a day off from work to adventure, the solstices and equinoxes are what I actually feel the need to mark in some worthwhile way. I […]
Conditions were absolutely perfect. The gravel roads had seen heavy snowmobile use since the snowstorm Saturday night, resulting in a packed highway for our fatbikes. It was cold -- in the low 20s -- but calm. I heated up quickly on the climb, opening up my vest and stuffing my heavy gloves in my stem …
The air is still and the world is quiet except for the occasional bird song. My own breath and the sound of feet on dirt keep a steady rhythm in my head, a beat that keeps me going, step after step. I don’t know how many miles in I am but the pain is starting …
I woke up at 5:30 simply so that I would be awake long enough that I'd want to eat before leaving the house. The thought of eating right after waking up is repulsive. I'm going to go ride my bike for a while today. 36 miles to be exact, mostly on trail. Rocky trail. I'm …
When I am mentally tired and not functioning properly, a good ride can set it all straight again. Riding bikes is like a reset button for my brain and my soul. And no matter how many other things I “should” be doing, I never, ever regret going on that ride. Read the full version of …
Despite a dry summer, Pennsylvania has really been delivering on the fall foliage this year. Maybe it's just me, and I'm just outside and noticing it more, but it actually seems like this has been one of the best years for autumn colors in a while. Earlier this week, in Coopers Gap, I was simply in …
helena kotala 