Got a great break Tuesday night to shut the garden down.  With the forecasts calling for overnight temps in the low 40’s, any summer veggies needed to go.  So I picked what was left and into the compost the plants went.  Despite the cool start to the summer, we managed to get a decent harvest this year, the crown jewel being the 25# pumpkin.  I’ll try to snap a picture & post it later.  That’s a fine lookin’ pumpkin.

So with the cover crops planted and the garlic (130 heads) in, we’re pretty much done for the year.  The only thing left is the apples.

Felt pretty good after the race Sunday.  Still had a lingering feeling that I could have pushed it harder.  I also remember violating the Cardinal Sin of Alpenrose by getting a poor start position.  There’s only so many spots you can make up over the whole course.  Anyway, I had some solid workouts over the week, leaving me with a warm & fuzzy feeling that I’m still getting faster.

I’m mostly an AM workout person.  Up at 6, add a 90 minute workout of some type in before work, and I’m good to go.  A couple of days a week I tack on a 60 min. spin class for a second workout.

I’m not exactly sure what the general consensus on spin classes are among ’serious’ cyclists.  I can’t say I’d care but I never hear about it much.   I’m not sure if others do spin classes or care to admit it.  But if I can spend an hour on a bike at or near race intensity and get off feeling completely worked, I’m ok with that.

I tend to approach them as Fartlek or over/under workouts.  After a quick warm-up, I try to spend as much of the class in, about, or around threshold effort.  You can stand & climb, play with resistance/cadence, sprint a bit, whatever, as long as I’m pushing myself near race-pace, it’s all good.

My only issue with the classes are the instructors.  Like anything, some are good, some not so good.  I think it’s all about a) how you present the work to the class, b) keeping people motivated, and c) having a realistic workout planned.  Finding one(s) that you are comfortable with takes a little experimentation and trial & error.  Some motivate me.  Some don’t.  Some have a clear plan for how the class will go.  Some don’t.  Everyone’s different.

Wilsonville this weekend.  Alpenrose wore the rear brake pads down to the metal so those need to go.  The drivetrain needs to be super-cleaned of all the grass bits still in there.  Double-check the tire glue job and we should be good to go.

What is exciting, at least right now, is harvesting veggies and getting the garden ready for the fall and winter.  Having been in our current house for a couple years and gotten used to the space I have (5 raised beds), I’ve finally settled on a nice rotation for each of the beds.  I’ve got a sense for what the family likes and how fast (or not) we go through things.

I think putting a little more effort this year than most came about during the early summer when I saw how exorbitant food prices were getting.  So if a couple hours a week is all it takes to harvest a reasonably steady supply of organic food year round, I’m ok with that.  Plus, it’s just good old fun to play around in the dirt.

This year’s late spring threw a lot of people off, myself included.  I’m not expecting a lot out of the heat lovers this year – cukes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.  Part of it was the weather.  The other part was the 6 truly naughty chickens we have.  It is utterly amazing to watch the speed at which they can shred a small patch of foliage if left unattended for 5 minutes.

So between them and our cat who continually likes to shit in the raised beds – I swear we were close to roast chicken with spicy cat sauce – I had a rough start this spring.  I’ve since fully caged the chickens.  I also place 2′ x 4′ wire fence segments over the little amount of bare earth where I put seeds down.  For the most part, I manage to keep the beds covered with a cover crop when they’re not in use.

Anyway, most stuff has recovered and we’ve had no shortage of lettuce so far this year.  The fall plantings are in full swing; cauliflower, walla wallas, kale, chard, lettuce, carrots and spinach.  I’m still learning how to plant seed in the heat of the summer so coverage is a bit spotty.  Should still be fine though.  Plus, I have slugs.  Slugs!  From what I’ve read, they’re likely hiding in the lettuce bed and are able to move around on the soil that I keep moist for the seedlings.  The bulbs, garlic and shallots, and winter cover crops will be later in Sept. and Oct.  Very exciting.