I got out of bed late today. I really did not want to get up. Finally I rolled out of bed and saw I missed a call I wanted to take, but it didn’t ring through. We were able to connect after I rolled out of bed, so I’m glad I didn’t miss that opportunity talk with them.
Once I did get up, I made it a day of doing what I want. I made coffee and toaster waffles for breakfast. I took my time enjoying both, while reading under my oak tree in my backyard. There are so many critters coming out right now!
A black looper caterpillar fell on me. I saw a black racer (snake) slither into the area where my garden statue is. And there are tussock moth caterpillars everywhere!
I spilled a little coffee on myself, which resulted in spot cleaning of the dress. I didn’t want it to stain. I wanted to wear the dress through the day, so I helped it dry a little faster with the help of my blow dryer (set on cold). I can’t see any stain now.
After breakfast and drying the dress, I decided to ride into St. Pete proper to get incense from my favorite store: Gopali Imports. On the ride, I saw a roseate spoonbill!! Always a special treat.
I kept peddling after seeing the spoonbill, and I went and got my incense. Alex, the owner, is always so nice. He remember me as a regular, which is pretty cool. After making my purchase, I was on a mission for a smoothie. I was a bit overheated from my ride into town, and I wanted something cold. But more specifically I wanted the fruit of a smoothie. I finally found one at Mickey’s Cafe.
After getting my smoothie, I checked out an art gallery/store (Florida CraftArt) and some crystal shops on the way back to where I parked my bike. The mantis stood about 3 feet tall and was just amazing to me. I love the bicycle-part gate too. Very neat. I love the details in the mechanical fly, and the real/not real of the other bug I took a picture of.
I even bought a piece of art by Kate Hetzel in Largo. It’s a sort of mobile, suncatcher sort of thing. I haven’t figure out a good way to get a picture of that yet, but it will go in the backyard.
I began my trip back home, taking the Pinellas Trail until it splits to the Skyway Trail. I stopped at the 7/11 on 54th Ave S and 34th St S and got a Gatorade. The smoothie wasn’t completely enough to give me what I needed, and I’d been feeling a little overexerted while peddling. I took the trail towards 31st St S, and stopped for a few minutes under the underpass to take a break and drink more of my Gatorade. A good-sized boat passed by, going to its boat slip, as I was taking my break.
I decided to head back home by going up 31st St S to 26th Ave S, instead of heading south through Pinellas Point. The southern route is prettier and less traffic-y, especially if you go through Pink Streets. But north was closer, and I was tired.
I mis-estimated how far I’d gone that day, and I ended up riding 21.85 miles! That’s a lot of not really planning it. And I haven’t been riding regularly lately. So I’m tired, but it was nice to get out.
As an FYI, I wore the dress the whole ride. I have had my nose right in the arm pits as a smell test, and the dress is not smelly. It has been in the low 80s today. Wool blends (this dress from Wool&) really are amazing when it comes to that sort of thing. If I hadn’t had experience with my Smartwool shirts that I’ve used on bike tours, I’m not sure I’d have bought this dress or done this challenge. I know they can take a bit of a beating…
I hope folks are taking time to do things that bring them joy!