Most definitely an empty road
Last weekend, after I got back from Nigel’s house after the overnight ride up his way, I noticed something very empty. My handlebar bag was devoid of its normal occupants. I’d left Verne and Kermit behind at Nigel’s place!
Don’t despair. I am sure they are lapping up beer and potato chips and television, since they don’t get that at my place. And I’ll see Nigel on the 14th, so he can return them then.
So the weather was perfect this past weekend, and that means I had to go ride. I auditioned a new crew member and did some relaxing riding to a nearby town. The last time I was there I only visited the hospital to get my leg fixed up after the dog attack. This time was much less eventful.
And I did find one perfectly empty road. I did not see a single car, person, cyclist, tractor, etc on the road in the feature picture. You can read more about that ride here: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2020/11/09/shifting-nov-ride-2-frogless-before-the-deluge/
The Navigator
Nerdy chick in Australia who loves to ride and is accompanied by the crew: 'The Commander' Verne and the 'Mental Health Specialist' Kermit.
14 response to "Most definitely an empty road"
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Looks like Car Ernie is a perfect addition to your team. I really envied his float. He looks like he knows how to enjoy life! Wonderful ride and photos, Em!
Thanks, Suzanne. Yes, I think Car Ernie has the right spirit and enthusiasm that would make him a good team member.
Verne and Kermit could be mentors for Car Ernie. He could join some of your rides together and, as most retirees end up doing, the two getting ready for retirement could be consultants along the way before easing into the retired life.
That mosaic path looks very interesting and a great place to explore. So glad you had a good few days for your bike tour. You are amazing.
Thanks – that’s a great idea! Maybe Verne and Kermit wouldn’t take the transition to retirement so hard if they had a mentoring role. Not sure if I can afford consultant fees though!
This sounds like you had a pretty great getaway weekend. Interesting comments from the merchants you talked to. Since my wife and I used to run a business, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I would feel if I was still in business today. I think very conflicted. I would certainly feel like we needed the business, but would also be very wary of people coming from other locations. Bottom line, I’m glad I’m not still running a store today! And by the way, I’ve always been a Kermit fan, but Ernie is a very close second!
Thanks, Bob. Yes, I was surprised by the business owner hesitancy, but the level of cleaning, density quotients, contact registration and such that they have to do could easily be overwhelmed by having too many people up there at once. So many places in regional areas have had no virus cases, or only a couple cases in the first wave that were just overseas returned travellers – not community transmission, that they are really keen to protect that.
So good to hear you like Ernie and Kermit, too. I had stuffed Ernies tucked under my arm for much of my under-5 years, so he has always been a favourite. Kermit has become more of a favourite as I grew older. I am a huge fan of Jim Henson and his work, so I have a soft spot for all Muppets 🙂
Great outing and beautiful photos, and a green Australia!
Didnt realize Kermit and Verne are nearing retirement — Sock Monkey sends regards, as, he too, is retired.
The cabin looks really cool to me.
Glad you had a nice tour!
Mark from Melbourne reports 11 days with no new Covid cases, hopefully that hold true for all of Oz.
All hell breaking loose here as you know. 12,600 new in IL today.
Well, today was 13 days of no virus cases in Melbourne and the fifth day in a row for the whole country. Have we eradicated the virus? No. It’s still lurking, so I just hope everyone doesn’t get too complacent. There are still cases daily in hotel quarantine of returned overseas travellers, and the virus escaping from there is how Melbourne’s second wave started. So vigilance is still required.
Yes, Verne and Kermit are edging toward retirement. Once one of them springs a leak that I can’t fix, they’ll have to lead a more gentle life. I’ve already fixed a hole in Verne’s foot, and the fabric above his eyeballs is almost worn through. Kermit has a broken arm and dangerously thin fabric, too. They’ll keep riding until I can’t fix them and they’ll be with me until my life is over, maybe just not on the bike. It is very sad, but seeing Car Ernie take to the road like a natural has made me feel a lot of relief.
Looking nice and green there. We’re just about to break our record for the wettest November and it’s not even half way through. La Nina apparently
Well, there you go. I didn’t know La Nina did anything to you over there. At least you don’t have to water the garden. Oct was above average rainfall, but just barely. We’re still below average for the year, and November has actually been off to a dry start (only 1.2 mm of rain so far). The green is still up in the hills, but once you get west of the Hume Hwy, it is rapidly curing and browning out there. I was out there for some site inspections for work the other day – summer looks to finally be on its way.
Glad you could get away! Looked like great riding and the pictures were beautiful as usual!
Thanks, Rocky. My body still prefers 42km to 42 miles though – so I can’t ride as far as I’d like amongst all that beauty.
Retirement for the amphibians? That’s so sad! Hopefully they’ll still get out for an occasional spin and float. It really doesn’t take much to keep those oldsters happy, you know. They’ve been such faithful companions for all these years – you owe them.
Verne is a bit upset that you called him an amphibian, but I’ll let it slide. You may underestimate my loyalty to the crew. I will give them as much adventure as their condition allows. I’m just thinking once fluff starts poking out that I can’t fix, they may need to live a slightly more sedate life. But don’t worry, they will always be well-looked after for as long as I live. Nigel also already has instructions that they are to be cremated with me when I die (unless you consider that cruel to burn them alive… we have had that discussion at length, actually).