I left my home, the fiscal cliff, and 2012 behind and was able to rally for a 2:00 ride today,  the first day of the new year, January 1, 2013.  It was overcast and felt colder than the 28 degrees indicated on various thermometers in town.  I sent a tweet out and a few text messages, to see if there were others who would enjoy some motivation to start the year where we ended it, on the bike, on 446.  Emily Palmer, recovering from a cold responded.  Don Galligher (DRT) was hopeful to join us and a few others were apparently already on the road.

“No appreciable change in our surroundings…we can only attempt to go south in our crippled state…still, there is a sporting chance and luck may be with us!”  Shackleton.  Ship’s log.  South.  The Endurance Expedition.  1917.

I have a barometer on my desk at the house.  It’s the 1800’s equivalent of today’s weather app for your smart phone.  The barometer indicates the change in pressure in millibars over a given time and has a dial that suggests states of weather; Fair, Change, Rain, Stormy.  Since I last set it, the dial was moving from Fair to Change as the pressure was dropping.    So was the weather despite the sunny day today. 

I was a little SAD today.  As in Seasonal Affect Disorder.  I was ready to get out in the cold, overcast day, even if it meant bundling up and driving over to 446 to find more road than snow and ice.  I had earlier texted a couple of teammates who had some interest, but some poorly timed family plans derailed the notion of a small group.  I was on my own.  Once we arrived back home I went directly to the basement, pulled gently by the cycling videos in the bookcase.  A well worn edition of a Sunday in Hell selected me.  Most of you have seen this, and probably many times.