CYCLING IN SPRINGTIME

POST # 65


Even though most people accept that the Spring Equinox arrives on or about the 21st of the month (except my Australian friends who for some reason think that the seasons change on the first), it actually arrived at 4:02am yesterday March 20th here on the west coast of North America. "Spring has sprung" as the old saying goes, and with that, the temperature will continue to warm as the earth proceeds on its never ending journey around the sun.

I couldn't think of a better excuse to go for a bike ride, and so after getting a few other things out of the way yesterday morning, which included a follow up visit to the doctor to have a look at the recent x-rays of my leg, I returned home, had a quick snack, let the cats that wanted in, in, and the ones that wanted out, out, and headed to the garage to get the bike and start out on my journey.

Now I would be hard pressed to think of anything that makes me as happy as I am when I am riding a bicycle. Yes, there are a few things, but hey, this is a family blog, right? A well functioning bike, a sunny day, an open road and who could ask for more? Well, maybe a tail wind but I'll get to that in a moment.

Riding these days is especially rewarding, mainly because I can. After breaking my leg last year, and hearing from the surgeon, that I might have to have my right foot amputated, I am particularly grateful to still have the opportunity to enjoy an activity which gives me so much pleasure. The bike has been my friend for many decades now, and I have been fortunate to travel some extended distances on two wheels, and even though there have been times, when the weather isn't co-operating and the riding is difficult, on balance, this activity is very rewarding to me on many levels. Not only is it a wonderful way to get a LONG look at the passing scenery, it's a great form of exercise as well. I get an overwhelming sense of freedom when I am riding.

So it was with this feeling yesterday, that I headed out on my journey. My plan was to travel west into the teeth of an incredibly strong wind, so that I would have the advantage of a tail wind on my return journey home. There was an actual wind warning in effect for here in Victoria yesterday, and there may have been wind gusts up to 100kph. Lots of fun. In spite of the occasional rain shower, I was more than happy to give my body a good work out on the bike.

Now what do you need, really, to ride a bike? Yes, you need the actual machine itself and you need a healthy enough body to operate the machine, and of course your body has to have some fuel in it to provide the energy to the muscles in order to spin the sprockets and transfer energy to the wheels so that you can produce a force to carry you along. Yes, you need all of that, but you need another essential component and if it isn't present, your bike ride and for that matter, everything else comes to a grinding halt. Everything Paul? Yes, everything. The planes don't fly, the cars don't drive, and the cats don't eat. Come on Paul, what on earth could be so important that it would cause all those things to happen?

I was pondering this question yesterday, as I stood along the coastline and felt the force of the wind in my face during a break in my ride. Prior to my break, I had had to breathe quite heavily to suck in enough oxygen to provide the energy to move forward against the wind and this got me to thinking about this component of life that we all take for granted, that being, oxygen. Without it, everything comes to a halt. Now of course, we take oxygen for granted just like we take gravity for granted. They've always been there and always will be. But according to the facts that are now coming out in ever greater quantity, this thing called oxygen is beginning to look like it will be going the same direction as the dinosaurs. In other words, extinct. Say what? That couldn't be possible. However, according to a scientific paper written by Malcolm Light, a specialist in earth sciences written in February 2012, this is the likely future we face. He says, extinction of all life on earth by mid century and to be more specific, 2031 in the northern hemisphere and 2047 in the southern hemisphere. See below:
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Global Extinction within one Human Lifetime as a Result of a Spreading Atmospheric Arctic Methane Heat wave and Surface Firestorm

Abstract

Although the sudden high rate Arctic methane increase at Svalbard in late 2010 data set applies to only a short time interval, similar sudden methane concentration peaks also occur at Barrow point and the effects of a major methane build-up has been observed using all the major scientific observation systems. Giant fountains/torches/plumes of methane entering the atmosphere up to 1 km across have been seen on the East Siberian Shelf. This methane eruption data is so consistent and aerially extensive that when combined with methane gas warming potentials, Permian extinction event temperatures and methane lifetime data it paints a frightening picture of the beginning of the now uncontrollable global warming induced destabilization of the subsea Arctic methane hydrates on the shelf and slope which started in late 2010. This process of methane release will accelerate exponentially, release huge quantities of methane into the atmosphere and lead to the demise of all life on earth before the middle of this century.

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To be specific, the methane, along with other feedback loops that are now well underway will cause the temperature to increase to such an extent, that the oceans will become dead zones, and because half of our oxygen is produced by phytoplankton in the ocean, that's a problem. The other half of the oxygen is produced by plants on land and with the increase in the temperature, the plants will wither away and that will probably take care of the rest of the oxygen. So, no more bike riding.



Now of course, this seems to be a major predicament, or a sticky wicket if you wanted to use a cricket term. But the evidence is there for anyone with the inclination to search it out. Some truths are harder to swallow than others.

On the plus side of things, it does help me to focus on what is, and what isn't important going forward. In other words, it helps to simplify even more, my already simplistic lifestyle.

So this is what I was thinking about yesterday, while taking a well earned break on my bike ride along the coast. Feeling rested, I continued my journey back home with a magnificent tailwind to push me along. The trip back was an almost effortless affair.

I arrived home to be greeted by James, Essie, Gaffer and Sally, the four other occupants of my current housesit here in Victoria. The cats that were in, when I left, were doing what cats do best, that is, having an afternoon nap when I arrived home. It seemed like a good thing to do, and having enjoyed some exercise, I decided that I too had earned the right to have a little cat nap of my own for a while, and maybe dream about my next bike ride.

Happy Trails and bike rides,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer