Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Stupid Old Woman On A Bike...

This is how yesterday went from nice to crappy...

A nice and beautifully cloudy day, temps not too high and with a slight breeze. Oh what a perfect day to take my camera outside and hopefully get some great shots. I debated just walking around the usual neighborhood, but really I am starting to find it difficult to get some new material. Oh, occasionally I do get some lucky shots..like the lighting being different or just the lucky butterfly just happens my way. Soo feeling that I had pretty much exhausted my resources, I decided to take myself on a bike ride. You know to venture out in areas I normally can't get to just by walking.

I left the house right about 11 am, after stopping numerous times to catch that pic I just glimpsed and even at times backing up for it. I managed to make it into town by 12:30 (noonish). The sun was starting to really take its toll on me, fairly quickly. Yes it was a gorgeous day, with clouds. The sun for some unknown reason decided I needed a sunburn and heat exhaustion, cause it refused to find one of those lovely clouds to hide behind.

I soon realized I had gone too far into town and of course there is still the ride home to look forward to. I decided to camp out under a tree at one the schools, there are like four schools in that one area. I sat there for a good while, trying to cool down and also hoping to catch my luck with the sun going behind a cloud. It took about 30 minutes, but it eventually happened. In the meantime (while waiting) I called my mom, telling her...I am lost in the wilderness and can't get back home!!

I set off for home and within minutes there is that blasted sun again. I hide under a tree for a few more minutes and my sister calls. She knows it and I know it, once she and I get on the phone..time slips away from all the talking, laughing and cutting up. Throw in her hubby to the mix and it is nonstop fun. After many minutes I figure I would try to walk the bike while still on the phone, needless to say I had some choice words about the sun!

Finally after getting far enough to where my ride would be down hill for awhile, I hung up with sis and wiped off my sweat on the phone (again) and proceeded on. I got to the bottom of the hill with great speed and actually made it up the other side more than halfway, BUT by time I got there I was breathing hard, dizzy and felt incredibly nauseous.

Once again I am on the side of the road trying to recoop. The recooperation wasn't happening, the breeze was no longer there and the sun was just getting hotter. I walked it, peddled it and took many breaks in the shade. I was just about 3/4 of a mile from the house and that was it!

I slumped off my bike (I did manage to get my stand down) and collapsed an the side of the road. Couldn't breathe, couldn't see and weak as a cooked noodle. I don't know how long I was there, but thankfully a truck stopped. The lady comes over to me and asks if I am okay, I couldn't answer her. I then heard her say..You don't look soo good. She grabs my arm and gets me to my feet, she puts my bike in the back of her truck and takes me home. She knew where I lived, was all I could think.

I get in the house and the living room floor was as far as I got. I woke up almost an hour later. Flooded myself with soo much water my eyeballs were probably floating, crawled into the shower and then into bed. Hubby woke me up when he got home and when I relayed to him what happened, I most definitely got chewed out and asked if I learned anything. Yes I learned that I am old and that the sun is all powerful!

I lived!

How did that lady know where I lived? Considering I have not made any friends since we moved here. Well remember this post, yeah that was her! I now owe her my life and my friendship! Don't cha think?

My death defying pics, will post soon.

Sigature,Heather

14 comments:

Lucy said... [Reply to comment]

Heather their are nice people and I am always surprised when a stranger helps me. Watch that Texas heat my lady.Glad it turn deadly for you

Angelia Sims said... [Reply to comment]

Heather, my goodness!! I didn't realize it was that bad. I think it was your guardian angel that took you home. I am sooo glad you are okay. Please be careful, you are not old, it's just too flippn' hot.

SuziCate said... [Reply to comment]

So glad you got rescued and are ok.

Joanie said... [Reply to comment]

Ok, that's scary! Glad you got home OK with the kindness of the lady with the truck.

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

SIL says...
I've said it before and I'll say it again... NO DYING ALLOWED!!! So please stop trying to overdo it! I'm SO glad that lady showed up when she did and that you are alright! How are you feeling today? Oh, and don't forget to take water with you on these trips!

VandyJ said... [Reply to comment]

Get your self a water bottle to fit on the bike if you take any more trips! Heat exhaustion is no picnik as you know now. Be careful!

Kendra said... [Reply to comment]

That's no good Heather! I'm glad you got home safely! I was laughing at the wiping the sweat off the cell phone part. When I went on my bike ride about a week ago I didn't have pockets so I shoved the phone between my girls and when I took it out to check the time it was covered in sweat! Ewwww! :) Safe travels next time!

Sprite's Keeper said... [Reply to comment]

Oy! Glad you're okay, very scary and it could have been so much worse! Thank goodness for angels!

Dee Andrews said... [Reply to comment]

Heather - Don't try THAT again, girl. Heat exhaustion could have easily led to a stroke. That happened to a friend of ours last summer and he was in the hospital delirious for several days.

They thought he might have permanent brain damage, but fortunately he didn't. But, he had been out riding his bicycle all afternoon in the heat and collapsed in front of someone's house out in the country.

BE CAREFUL!!!!!

Dee

Lifeofkaylen said... [Reply to comment]

Scary!!!
The sun is lethal. I avoid it.

And it irritates me when I hear people talk about "a healthy tan" - as if it's healthy to let the sun scar your skin so you look a little cooked!

kathryn said... [Reply to comment]

OHMYGOD! I'm so glad you're okay...you MANIAC, you! And at the end of the post when you say "this lady" with the link...and I'm frowning as I'm waiting for the link to download...and I say, "The lady who likes to talk? THAT lady??"

Wow, Heather. Wow. Co-incidence? I don't think so.

Jimmy said... [Reply to comment]

It's a good thing you stopped and talked to her before, it's a blessingg she was the one who stopped for you this time.

Glad you got home safe Lady

Erin said... [Reply to comment]

Good thing she found you and not some weirdo!

Tinkerschnitzel said... [Reply to comment]

Been there done that. The same thing happened to me at Scarborough Fair. My problem? I hadn't eaten all day! I learned my lesson. :) Glad you're okay.