What to do on a Weekend: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Ride my Bicycle

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.  

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:

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:

I wish more walls were painted.

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.

From here, I'd had enough of competing with cars for space---I figured I'd remained lucky enough today.  So I walked my bike up Woodmont boulevard, passing through church and mall parking lots out of a desire to stay alive.



My journey ended at one of my favorite places---Whole Foods.  I chained my bike up, and bought a bunch of bananas.

Only 2 lived.

 I was lucky enough to have my ole' roommate and buddy from the last 2 years in college pick me up.  I was glad to not have to figure out how I'd gotten where I was, and how to get back.

Sometimes friendship means not having to find your car.

My bike trip began where it ended, at Shelby Bottoms Park.  I was thirsty, and my legs screamed at me when I sat in my 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!