Gorgeous spring days

Ahhh...it's spring and the weather for the last couple of days have reminded all of us in southeast Texas how wonderful this season is! Henry David Thoreau dedicated a section of his "Walden: or, Life in the Woods" to Spring. "One attraction to coming to the woods to live," he writes, "was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the Spring come in." While I know that Thoreau is writing more about life than just a season in the chapter, I must comment that I don't need to go to the woods or even to an open field to experience spring as much as Thoreau. I get to see it in the morning on the way to work or to a ride as the sun comes up on Galveston Bay. I also get to hear it when I walk through trees at work and hear a bevy of birds singing above me. I experience it every Saturday and Sunday during my early morning bike rides as I smell freshly mown grass. And, soon, I hope to experience it while taking surfing lessons in Galveston and feeling the sun on my skin and waves splashing through my hair. I've done a little Internet research and found numbers to call for info on different surf instructors. I need to take the metaphoric plunge and arrange for lessons and board rentals. I realize we're only two weeks into the "official" beginning of spring, but I don't want it to soar past so quickly that I miss my opportunity to appreciate this fabulous season while in the surf.

Recuperating muscles -- not for long

Although some of the bruises are still visible and the aching in some of the muscles continue, I still look forward to trying to surf in Galveston. I've researched several surf sites through Google, and I have a few names to call. Until then, I'm continuing my pre-trip training except for the 5 a.m. swim. I put it off another week because of a cold I seem to be fighting. My workout routine will include cycling, yoga, spinning and weights. I got back on the bike for the first time in two weeks today. The air temperature was very nice... in the 70s. The wind was low, and the sky was very clear. It felt like spring. I'm glad I waited until the afternoon. The morning was quite cool and a ride then wouldn't have been as pleasant. Hopefully, I'll get to ride sometime during the week; maybe even with the bike group on the Tuesday night 20-mile loop.

I am also continuing my pop-up practice, as well as push-ups several nights a week. But most of all, I'm continuing my "study" of the art of surfing by reading and watching others in the sport.