For a moment near the end, I thought I was suffering heat exhaustion (it got up to 93 degrees F or 34 C) yesterday and I had a scary moment where I forced myself to stop, get off the asphalt magnifying the heat, and rest in the shade of some trees, but other than that I guess I did okay on my ride yesterday. I covered 48 miles (77.25 km) in about 5 hours with roughly 45 minutes to an hour spent at the rest stops socializing and sipping gatorade. Considering I was on a mountain bike and I had never done over 30 miles in one stretch, I feel I did okay. I managed some great speeds the first 30 miles, but the last 18 were a struggle.
Riding through the Alabama countryside is a beautiful thing. I really love where I live. There’s nothing like riding through our softly rolling hills which alternate between grassy farmland (I had no idea there were so many goat farms nearby), clear cut fields dotted by wildflowers, bridges over swift streams, and thick forests. The South gets a bad reputation based on our past, but the modern rural South is a really friendly place. People were jokingly trying to spray us off with their garden hoses to help us cool off. Just about everyone I rode past offered a friendly remark or greeting. People driving by waved at us. Some kids working a car wash for some charity or another even offered to wash my bike for me. Despite my odd splotchy sunburn, it was a good ride.
Editing News: I’m caught up on submissions through May 11th. If you’ve sent me anything prior to this date, please query because it never made it through.
Writing: Nothing yesterday, but I’m planning on putting down a few words today. I’ve written out a lot of novel ideas lately. Two in particular are sticking in my head – one a rural horror set in a state park, the other a tragicomedy about young adult males and drugs. Plus I have that third book in my trilogy which I am procrastinating on and an unfinished book I started a few years ago that I would like to go back and complete now that I’ve done some more research on the subject. The song goes “time is on my side, yes it is!” but it ain’t. Or at least it feels that way sometimes.
T.J. McIntyre: A Southern Fried Weirdo 
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Congratulations! 48 miles in that heat is excellent.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Very impressive! And what’s more, for a good cause.
I wish more people loved where they lived. Not just that the places they lived were more lovable, but that people went about with eyes and hearts wide open to the potential, as you do.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!