"When you have nothing more to say, just drive
For a day all round the peninsula.
The sky is tall as over a runway,
The land without marks, so you will not arrive
But pass through, though always skirting landfall.
At dusk, horizons drink down sea and hill,
The ploughed field swallows the whitewashed gable
And you're in the dark again. ..."
- from THE PENINSULA by Seamus Heaney
Or you could ride; instead of drive. Tonight. With your ride friends. One last summer evening in the saddle.
THE STROLL. In the cool darkness of pre-dawn Sandy and I strolled through wet grass, with a fresh southeasterly breeze in our face, with no set destination in mind. Or so I thought. While I wandered next to her gazing at Orion, rising in the east, and sweeping the heavens for more stars, she had honed in on a dropped delicacy; a teeny bite of taco, dropped next to a refuse receptacle. By the time I noticed her objective it was in her mouth and on its way to her stomach. Just when you think they're too old for tricks; they trick you again. As she waited for her kibble her stomach rumbled and moaned. 'Karma? evening party wears with sleeves
Good morning everyone.
It begins each year with Yeats, taking us "Into The Twilight:"
"Out-worn heart, in a time out-worn, Come clear of the nets of wrong and right; Laugh, heart, again in the gray twilight; Sigh, heart, again in the dew of the morn. Thy mother Eire is always young...."
Ah, the promise of summer's arrival: warmth, light, the luxury of time...
It concludes with Heaney; watching the sunset over the Atlantic at "The Singer's House:"
"...who might stand at the end of summer in the mouth of a whitewashed turf-shed his shoulder to the jamb, his song a rowboat far out in evening. ..."
We've one last Summer ride to take tonight. Let's get right to the details:
THE ROLL. RIDE WEATHER: Sunny and mild. High 72. Winds WNW at 13, diminishing to 5. Sunset: 7:42PM (1942)
TIME, TEMP, DP, RH, SKY, WIND: 5:00 pm; 72 °F; 53 °F; 51%; Sunny; 13 mph WNW6:00 pm; 71 °F; 53 °F; 53%; Sunny; 11 mph WNW7:00 pm; 68 °F; 52 °F; 57%; Sunny; 8 mph WNW8:00 pm; 63 °F; 52 °F; 66%; Clear; 5 mph WNW
UNIFORM OF THE DAY: Setting Summer Sunshine Kit
ON TOP: A lightweight wicking short or long sleeved base under your bike jersey; or short sleeves with arm warmers...just in case toy feel a bit of a chill. You may also want to bring a bandana (du rag) or cap. Standard half-fingered bike gloves should do the trick.
BELOW THE WAIST: I’d go with bike shorts. You’ll also want your lightweight wool or synthetic socks.
AS ALWAYS: Have your RoadID, shades, sunblock, lip balm and a snack or two; two water bottles — one full with water; one with some sports drink — or more water if you're bringing energy chews or "bloks" as snacks.
DON'T FORGET YOUR MEDS: If you use an inhaler or epi-pen, please have them with you and in a jersey pocket.
DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET...IT'S A MUST! … and consider … LIGHTS; FORE AND AFT or at least a seat post - rear - red flasher. Sunset is at 7:42...the light will be low. BE SEEN!
PLEASE HAVE A SPARE INNER TUBE, some tire levers and a means to inflate the tube should you need to use it. Remember to top off your tires before arriving — check the sidewall but most of you will be looking for somewhere around 100 - 120 PSI. If you're not sure about this part; please bring your pump in the car with you.
NO SAG. Please plan on items you can wear or stuff easily in your saddlebag or pockets.
Please arrive at N.A. Walbran Elementary School, 8610 NY-69, Oriskany, NY 13424 by 5:25PM(1725). We’ll try to roll as close to 5:30PM(1730) as possible.
POST PEDAL POTENT - or passive - POTABLE POSSIBILITY: i'm off to Stockdale's to raise a glass to summer. Come along if you can.
THE EXTOLL. The light flickered; then died in the early hours of August 30, 2013. Seamus Heaney was 74 years old at the time of his death.
The wonderful thing about writers, great writers, its that their work lives on after they leave us. Though Seamus is no longer amongst us we can enjoy his vignettes of life and wonderful way with words any time we wish.
It's appropriate that Yeats and Heaney should open and close the summer series. They were both icons of Irish poetry. They were both Nobel Laureates who wrote of times of conflict. They both had their finger keenly placed on the pulse of the people and place they called home. They were both masters of mood and setting.
When a daughter or son of Erin dies; there is often a singer at the funeral's...errrr..."after party" - I know, it sounds irreverent, but we've a knack for occasions - stepping up to sing a song. Quite often that song is "Carrikfergus." So, we go out, as promised, with the full version of Seamus's wonderful "The Singer's House."
The Singer’s House
When they said Carrickfergus I could hearThe frosty echo of saltminers’ picks.I imagined it, chambered and glinting,a township built of light.
What do we say any moreto conjure the salt of our earth?So much comes and is gonethat should be crystal and kept
and amicable weathersthat bring up the grain of things,their tang of season and store,are all the packing we’ll get.
So I say to myself Gweebarraand its music hits off the placelike water hitting off granite.I see the glittering sound
framed in your window,knives and forks set on oilcloth,and the seals’ heads, suddenly outlined,scanning everything.
People here used to believethat drowned souls lived in the seals.At spring tides they might change shape.They loved music and swam in for a singer
who might stand at the end of summerin the mouth of a whitewashed turf-shedhis shoulder to the jamb, his songa rowboat far out in evening. When I came here first you were always singing,a hint of the clip of the pickin our winnowing climb and attack.Raise it again, man. We still believe what we hear.
- Seamus Heaney
NOTE: Gweebarra is a place where the river meets the sea in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is home to the RoanInish (Island of the seals) Natural Heritage Area.
BELOW: Gweebarra sunset from the "Statue of Liberty house."
- from THE PENINSULA by Seamus Heaney
Or you could ride; instead of drive. Tonight. With your ride friends. One last summer evening in the saddle.
THE STROLL. In the cool darkness of pre-dawn Sandy and I strolled through wet grass, with a fresh southeasterly breeze in our face, with no set destination in mind. Or so I thought. While I wandered next to her gazing at Orion, rising in the east, and sweeping the heavens for more stars, she had honed in on a dropped delicacy; a teeny bite of taco, dropped next to a refuse receptacle. By the time I noticed her objective it was in her mouth and on its way to her stomach. Just when you think they're too old for tricks; they trick you again. As she waited for her kibble her stomach rumbled and moaned. 'Karma? evening party wears with sleeves
Good morning everyone.
It begins each year with Yeats, taking us "Into The Twilight:"
"Out-worn heart, in a time out-worn, Come clear of the nets of wrong and right; Laugh, heart, again in the gray twilight; Sigh, heart, again in the dew of the morn. Thy mother Eire is always young...."
Ah, the promise of summer's arrival: warmth, light, the luxury of time...
It concludes with Heaney; watching the sunset over the Atlantic at "The Singer's House:"
"...who might stand at the end of summer in the mouth of a whitewashed turf-shed his shoulder to the jamb, his song a rowboat far out in evening. ..."
We've one last Summer ride to take tonight. Let's get right to the details:
THE ROLL. RIDE WEATHER: Sunny and mild. High 72. Winds WNW at 13, diminishing to 5. Sunset: 7:42PM (1942)
TIME, TEMP, DP, RH, SKY, WIND: 5:00 pm; 72 °F; 53 °F; 51%; Sunny; 13 mph WNW6:00 pm; 71 °F; 53 °F; 53%; Sunny; 11 mph WNW7:00 pm; 68 °F; 52 °F; 57%; Sunny; 8 mph WNW8:00 pm; 63 °F; 52 °F; 66%; Clear; 5 mph WNW
UNIFORM OF THE DAY: Setting Summer Sunshine Kit
ON TOP: A lightweight wicking short or long sleeved base under your bike jersey; or short sleeves with arm warmers...just in case toy feel a bit of a chill. You may also want to bring a bandana (du rag) or cap. Standard half-fingered bike gloves should do the trick.
BELOW THE WAIST: I’d go with bike shorts. You’ll also want your lightweight wool or synthetic socks.
AS ALWAYS: Have your RoadID, shades, sunblock, lip balm and a snack or two; two water bottles — one full with water; one with some sports drink — or more water if you're bringing energy chews or "bloks" as snacks.
DON'T FORGET YOUR MEDS: If you use an inhaler or epi-pen, please have them with you and in a jersey pocket.
DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET...IT'S A MUST! … and consider … LIGHTS; FORE AND AFT or at least a seat post - rear - red flasher. Sunset is at 7:42...the light will be low. BE SEEN!
PLEASE HAVE A SPARE INNER TUBE, some tire levers and a means to inflate the tube should you need to use it. Remember to top off your tires before arriving — check the sidewall but most of you will be looking for somewhere around 100 - 120 PSI. If you're not sure about this part; please bring your pump in the car with you.
NO SAG. Please plan on items you can wear or stuff easily in your saddlebag or pockets.
Please arrive at N.A. Walbran Elementary School, 8610 NY-69, Oriskany, NY 13424 by 5:25PM(1725). We’ll try to roll as close to 5:30PM(1730) as possible.
POST PEDAL POTENT - or passive - POTABLE POSSIBILITY: i'm off to Stockdale's to raise a glass to summer. Come along if you can.
THE EXTOLL. The light flickered; then died in the early hours of August 30, 2013. Seamus Heaney was 74 years old at the time of his death.
The wonderful thing about writers, great writers, its that their work lives on after they leave us. Though Seamus is no longer amongst us we can enjoy his vignettes of life and wonderful way with words any time we wish.
It's appropriate that Yeats and Heaney should open and close the summer series. They were both icons of Irish poetry. They were both Nobel Laureates who wrote of times of conflict. They both had their finger keenly placed on the pulse of the people and place they called home. They were both masters of mood and setting.
When a daughter or son of Erin dies; there is often a singer at the funeral's...errrr..."after party" - I know, it sounds irreverent, but we've a knack for occasions - stepping up to sing a song. Quite often that song is "Carrikfergus." So, we go out, as promised, with the full version of Seamus's wonderful "The Singer's House."
The Singer’s House
When they said Carrickfergus I could hearThe frosty echo of saltminers’ picks.I imagined it, chambered and glinting,a township built of light.
What do we say any moreto conjure the salt of our earth?So much comes and is gonethat should be crystal and kept
and amicable weathersthat bring up the grain of things,their tang of season and store,are all the packing we’ll get.
So I say to myself Gweebarraand its music hits off the placelike water hitting off granite.I see the glittering sound
framed in your window,knives and forks set on oilcloth,and the seals’ heads, suddenly outlined,scanning everything.
People here used to believethat drowned souls lived in the seals.At spring tides they might change shape.They loved music and swam in for a singer
who might stand at the end of summerin the mouth of a whitewashed turf-shedhis shoulder to the jamb, his songa rowboat far out in evening. When I came here first you were always singing,a hint of the clip of the pickin our winnowing climb and attack.Raise it again, man. We still believe what we hear.
- Seamus Heaney
NOTE: Gweebarra is a place where the river meets the sea in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is home to the RoanInish (Island of the seals) Natural Heritage Area.
BELOW: Gweebarra sunset from the "Statue of Liberty house."
