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| This is actually from another weekend on a bike. |
When a Friday rolls around, I'm happy to be done with the work week, but there's an equal part of me apprehensive about what comes next. My big question becomes, "What am I going to do this weekend?"
Maybe that's a ridiculous problem to have. Maybe you have a spouse, kids, multiple jobs, and various other situations where the stress inherent in wondering how to use a weekend is something you would love to have. Or maybe it's something that never shows up. I completely understand!
Nevertheless, maybe there's a tiny bit of the day, or a day, where you do have the choice of how to use your time. If so, have you ever felt a pang of guilt on a Sunday night (or whatever your version of a Sunday night might be) where you think something along the lines of, "Man, I wish I had done something?" This weekend I dealt with that question, and I liked what happened next.
This Saturday I awoke early with only the slightest of plans. I knew I wanted to ride my bike and possibly explore a large part of Nashville. If you've never checked out the Music City Bikeway, it's an incredible option for a weekend. I recommend starting at Shelby Bottoms Park.
I drove there with the benefits that come from having a box for a vehicle.
My supplies included, 2 Nalgene water bottles, a book I'm reading called The Fighter's Mind, a change of shirt, my swim suit, a notebook to write in, and my bike. I like the mentality of keys, wallet, phone as the only supplies, but today I wanted to be ready for reading at Centennial Park or swimming at the YMCA.
I'm not an incredible, spandex-wearing cyclist (those folks are assassins), but I like doing a wide variety of stuff in my free time, so I started off with a warm-up ride from the park visitor center to the Cumberland Bridge.
Here's a video I took while riding the bridge:
I returned to the Shelby Bottom's Visitor's Center, and ventured up the pedestrian bridge and into downtown Nashville. This picture captured a section very close to the Marathon Music Works Building.
As I ventured onto the Music City Bikeway, it became clear that certain sections further away from the prominent parts of town are more neglected. This was at a park.
After about a 30 minutes from downtown, I arrived in the Farmer's Market area where a very Chattanooga-esque public fountain lies. It was great for a bike ride in July!
After the fountain, it became harder to figure out where the Nashville Music City Bikeway signs were leading me, I went long and hard up hills and sometimes had to share a space with cars. At those moments I found myself hoping I'd stay lucky that day. After likely close to 2 hours, I passed through the Sylvan Park area, applied another coating of sunscreen, and found myself close to an oasis: this natural food market called The Produce Place. I might venture there again even after this Saturday adventure.
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A babysitter from my past once gave massive props to the kids who ate okra. I finally fulfill that requirement.
I was low on water, and hot from the sheer number of hours I'd been exposed to the sun. I was happy to see fruits and veggies. This won:
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| Some expenditures of $2 are worth more than others.
I thanked the good folks at the Produce Place and mentioned that after 15 or so odd miles, a watermelon tasted better than average watermelons. A middle-aged man wearing a Hawaiian shirt said, "I just rode 30 miles, I guess a watermelon would be incredible to me!" Suddenly I felt embarrassed to have possibly inferred that 15 miles was something. We chatted an I found out he'd just finished cycling at the Percy Warner Park. I made it absolutely clear that I found his exploits to be something and that someday I'd check out the cycling in that area as well.
At this point, my trek became a serious of jaunts within streets in neighborhoods. Here are a couple of highlights:
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If you've ever been to Climb Nashville, you'll have an idea of where I was riding. I found myself on redmon street and used the climbing gym as an opportunity to use the bathroom. In the 30 seconds I walked through, there were 7 people in line waiting to get in.
With less water, I pushed up hills and eventually passed over the interstate and made my way back into the main section of Nashville to try a coffee and tea shop I'd driven past many times but never entered: dose.
I ordered a milk tea mostly because it sounded like the ultimate, weird, delicious choice to have on a blazing bike ride in July. It was chilled, with sugar sprinkled on top. It was perfect.
Now having ridden for upwards of 3 hours, I explained to the barista that I'd ridden from Shelby Bottoms park. He said, "Dude, I live in that area and bike to work most days a week!" Like Hawaiian shirt guy, I'd encountered another who completed my "adventure" on a daily basis. I thanked him for the milk tea and wished him a Happy Saturday.
The journey switched gears (yeah, pun intended) as I entered the affluent neighborhoods around the Green Hills neighborhood. Whereas earlier in my trip I'd felt a sense of neglect in certain areas, now I was concerned I might be the one who looked out of place with my sweat-soaked shirt and 5 oclock shadow. I rode on.
I am horrible with directions mostly because I don't pay attention. A GPS is an essential tool for me to get anywhere. I got lost eventually, and found myself passing over the interstate, really pushing the bike hard to keep up with cars going in the upper 50 miles per hour. I eventually got off the bike and pushed.
My journey ended at one of my favorite places---Whole Foods. I chained my bike up, and bought a bunch of bananas.
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| Only 2 lived. |
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| Sometimes friendship means not having to find your car. |
But I was happy, because I'd had a great Saturday.
#No Weekend Wasted
P.S. If you're still reading---
Costs:
Watermelon $1.99
Milk Tea $4.50 (I think I tipped a dollar)
Bunch of Bananas $1.36
Total:
$7.85
This isn't a particularly adventurous weekend if you compare it to climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, sailing across the world, or eating baguettes in France. Yet I can get on a bike and ride upwards of 20 miles in a fun day I won't forget.
I started the trip alone---you don't necessarily need a crew to have a day like this; however, I met many cool folks while on the road and got to hang out with one of my best friends at the end.
I exercised, ate good food, and spent less than $ 10. If I can make a great weekend out of a bike, a watermelon, milk tea, and a bunch of bananas, then I figure you can have an awesome experience too! Tell me what you think in the comments section and I'd love to hear about your adventures too!
