I got steamed today! Big Boy came into town Friday evening; and departed from the Fly this morning. I wasn\’t able to see it Friday, although I heard that steam whistle (it\’s LOUD!).

The moon is at the full, and of course I wanted to see it. In fact, this is the first time in several months that my moon view hasn\’t been thwarted by cloudy skies! So I did a very short ride to see the moonlight on the river; came home for a bit to get my Camel-Bak and ride food; and went out again.

The forecast predicted another heat advisory for today; and I decided to make my ride rather short. I wound up making it even shorter than I intended, because I wanted to see that train. Something in me still hasn\’t grown up!

I could have done some more miles, because the train was late in departing. It was supposed to leave at 8:00 am; and it was more like 30-40 minutes later when Big Boy at last got moving. But I rode out six miles or so; turned around; and rode to the Fly.

Here is where I did a bit of cheating. I walked my bicycle alongside the parked train, because I\’m not at all confident of my ability to ride on a grassy surface; and I left the Garmin on. I finally turned it off, because I forgot to charge it up Friday night; and I knew it was running low.

Escorts

I admit I was a bit steamed about having to stand around so long while I waited for Big Boy to start. The sun was already getting hot; and I was getting hungry. I don\’t know what the delay was. Some of us bystanders were joking that Big Boy must have spent last night in the French Quarter.

When the train finally came past, I (and a mob of other cyclists) rode alongside of it. We were escorts to a bit of history! I would have loved to see the train going over the Huey P., but I had no idea how long it might take the train to get there; and besides that I needed a bathroom break. Hence I decided to go home.

Back to my pre-Fly ride. I made several 5-minute efforts at pushing for 15 mph or more; and couldn\’t complete the third one. My legs were really feeling it; and my heart rate had edged into the max. I noticed that eating at that effort level is definitely harder! The food tended to stick in my throat. Or was it because of the Clif Builders Bar texture?

CLIF BUILDER’S Protein Bar

It\’s 10:15 am, and already 89 degrees. If I were still out there, I\’d really be getting steamed!