Tag: travel

New shoes 👞 👖👚

by Rick Roop

There is no better feeling when traveling to the mall when my wife needs a new pair of shoes. It’s time to shop for the perfect pair of shoes when needed to match her jeans, shirt, and her nails. It’s exciting for her and for me seeing that I gladly want to participate in the event. The surprise thoughts and questions asked of her saying, how does this look 👀 on me? The joy expressed in her smile 😊 is worthwhile.

Dollywood

After being inspired by my wife’s search of matching clothes, and seeing how gorgeous she looks, I was inspired and motivated. Thoughts started running through my mind. I also visioned the opportunity for myself when i am cycling, running, and hiking or walking.

Cyclist

I now find myself searching for the perfect color of shorts, socks, shoes, helmet, and jersey to go along with my new road bike. If i could accomplish the theme, maybe i could ride faster, run longer, and walk stronger. All matching of course!

I like the yellow color for cycling seeing that the Tour de France leader wears this color jersey every day when leading the race. The green color jersey is worn by the best rider in the sprinters classification. The polka dot jersey goes to the leader of the Mountains Classification, otherwise known as King of the Mountains. The white jersey goes to the 25 years or younger, it goes to the best time for that age group.

Peloton

After seeing the amazing colors associated with the cycling community, I started shopping for my own set of clothes that I could wear while riding my bicycle. I started to imagine my own self on that bicycle dressed in awesome cycling clothing.

Smokies

My options were not limited nor were they confined to be bland. Simple was fine. Ordinary was okay but I could do much better. I had imagination just like my wife. I wanted to look like the best and be the best just like Kim my wife, and have so much fun doing so.

Rock the Crater

If you are looking for motivation for losing weight and to find fitness, you would look great in your new cycling, running or walking shorts. You could match your shorts with a matching top, arm or head band, maybe a new pair of shoes. Maybe those neon socks that you have been looking at. You are ready now to step up to the podium and to receive your victory lap, and you look great doing so!

Runners

Foothills Parkway Smoky Mountains 🚴‍♀️

by Rick Roop

Just outside of Maryville, Tn near Gatlinburg there is a picturesque place for cyclists to sight see, relax, ride a road bicycle, and to get a very serious workout while doing so. 🏔 Scenery, solitude, and a breath of fresh air can be found within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park🌳 and the famous Foothills Parkway!

I started riding the foothills parkway about four years ago. Maybe it was five years ago 🤔 It’s possible to lose count especially when having so much fun and touring in the Smokies on a road bicycle.

Specialized Tarmac

I have experienced great results every time that I go, and as a result I want to go back at least once a year.

At the top

I start just outside the parkway in Walland, Tn a small community located near Maryville, and about 6 miles away from Townsend, It’s here where I usually park near the fire station on river road then ride about a half mile to the start of my destination 🌳 the parkway

There’s not as much traffic here like I have seen at other stops located within in the smokies park. Not much litter, smoggy smoke, or honking horns. No drag strip or go carts to be had here at the foothills parkway.

🥵

I have gone through long stretches of highway at the foothills without seeing or hearing anyone. I have often wondered is anyone here or have they shut the place down? What if I needed help who would be available to stop 🛑 and help me back to civilization. Who could assist me with food or water 💧 maybe a possible snack.

Sag Wagon

I love being outdoors and seeing nature at its best. There are plentiful plants at the foothills parkway, and I enjoy taking photos of plants every time that I go.

Daisies

There are numerous pull overs for a chance to break from hill climbing, and fast downhill riding. All I have to do is exit find a nice spot and have lunch.

After riding the foothills parkway from Walland to Wears valley and back I get really hungry seeing that I cycled 31 miles with a elevation climb of 3,812 feet!

Way up here

If you like getting away from the busy highway and traffic jams. Try the foothills parkway in the GSMNP🌳

Climbing the mountain 🏔

by Rick Roop

Climbing a mountain can be a monumental task that requires a lot of thought, energy, and preparation. The highest peak ahead is somewhat daunting and frightful. Apprehensive feelings could detour some from attempting to climb the mountain. Sometimes the decision to delay is more acceptable than completion. Putting off my goals for development is a strenuous decision, seeing that it’s a easy choice. However, The rewards of weight loss and fitness is simple and relative to climbing. The investment of victory is worthwhile!

At the top

First up is the survey of the mountain from the bottom. Looking up is usually how we judge. Elevation and distance is important. This determines how hard this is going to be and what is my pain experience during the run 🏃‍♂️ or perhaps a meal adjustment 🍔

Next, it’s the mental preparation, I think of the best outcome despite the obstacles of indifference. The repeated chants spoken inside our inner thoughts tells our human psychology yes you can instead of repeated declination. Exercises of approval and disapproval is now a part of the process. Now you have two choices. Whether to wait or to accept the challenge of climbing the mountain ⛰. That’s my Delma ☺️

My first thought of riding the afore mentioned hill was one of trepidation 😞

I had vivid memories of not being able to complete my first century ride a few years ago. I can remember it very well. It was like yesterday that I signed up for the historic long ride. It was my first attempt to ride a 100 miles at the tour de cure in Knoxville, Tn. I thought that I was promptly prepared to ride for 100 miles in honor of my dad. All ready to go with a photo of my dad in my jersey pocket, I thought it would be a complete fastest ride ever!

Century Ride

After reaching the 82 mile mark I found myself in a friendly neighborhood yard with unbelievable cramps that caused me to quit and to be be rescued by the SAG wagon!

I was so distraught and discouraged about giving up. Some sadness while riding in the SAG wagon. But, I overheard the SAG support say over radio communication that he had nothing to be fretful for it’s a very long ride.

I did not give up after that day. I continued my quest for my first century ride, and was successful at the tour de tellico with my dad’s memory on my bike.

Sometimes the mountain gets you. Most times you’ll get the mountain if you’ll continue to! Happy weight loss and fitness 😀

Quitter’s day 2025 what it means 🤔

by Rick Roop
Quitters Day

We all have the idea of sharing a smile, giving a gift, word of encouragement, maybe a telephone call or friendly visit. It’s the start of a new idea, deep thought, or a refining connection. Trying to be a good person to establish a new direction perhaps fresh exploration, and new reflections. Starting the plan and not completing the work did not mean that you failed with goodwill intent. It was the thought that counts! You were successful by planting the seeds of beneficial inspiration. Eventually you garnered enough thought to complete the generous gesture, and helped someone have a really nice day.

Quitters day is a term given by some as the second Friday in January. They say that’s when most people give up on New Year’s Day resolutions. Some designate this date as determining failure for those who have not yet accomplished their New Year’s Day goals. Some give dire prediction for those who do not complete the course or defining resolution.

However, everyone who has lived has remaining goals that have not been completed. All of us have dreams of finalizing our hopes of success. Maybe it’s college education, musical 🎤 aspirations, learning the piano guitar or violin, travel, financial gain. It’s human to dream about the future and human to complete the process.

Completion starts with a thoughtful meaning that’s deep within ourselves. Beginning means small and fresh. New sprouts emerge like seeds in a flower pot. A new born taking the first breath. The sun opening behind unveiling clouds. Dreams of meaning like these cannot be extinguished by someone who gives a completion date called quitters day.

I started cycling at the senior age of fifty four years old. I spent many years passively wondering about the subject of weight loss and fitness. Just think of all the years that I could have been riding running or swimming.

What could have been is a thought that I could entertain. However, I was motivated by my father’s memory while walking past his bicycle.

I proceeded with a thought that I could ride his bicycle as a memorial to my dad’s life. While riding my dad’s bicycle that day, I was overwhelmed with the sense that my dad was right there with me. My dad was pointing to the direction that I needed to ride. He said that I could ride at the park in Harrogate in a circle till I got a good workout in. That day marked a turning point in my life directing further purpose and meaning for weight loss fitness.

My dad was such a hard working caring individual who often put others and his family ahead of himself. I knew that he was a protector bread winner and leader for a lot of people friends and family. I spent a lot of time with my dad walking playing racquetball talking about his father sisters and brothers, and many friends.

It was the memorial spirit that was lying dormant for all of those years that gave me energy to get on the bicycle 🚴 and to attempt weight loss and fitness.

It is the spark of imagination that will lead you to greater aspirations in life. It is the influential thoughts of purposeful dreams that come from real relationships. Not a date called quitters day!

Everybody needs a wheel 🚴

by Rick Roop

From childhood to adulthood the wheel has been an important part of our life. A transition from one place to another. A trip towards maturity. Steps that lead to our future self.

Memories from the past reminds us of peace and contentment. Thoughts of handlebar ribbons attached to a bicycle, big wheels on a three wheeler, a tire swinging from a sun drenched rope.

The wheel helps our vehicle to roll on the highway to our chosen destination. The wheel guides us through peaks and valleys, ups and downs, twists and turns, the stops and the acceleration. Successful travels to our destination!

Perhaps the most influential purpose of the wheel is it’s ability to transport our grown up person back to our childhood. Directing us back to a time when things were more simple and less stressful. Back when we were abstract from the chorus of time keeping ⏱

When I was born someone had to drive my mother to the hospital in a car on wheels to bring about a healthy birth. My first day at school was escorted by a yellow school bus assisted by wheels. Follow up visits to the the doctor for examination and vaccinations were made possible by the wheels on dad’s car. Baptism, graduation, weddings, reunions, education, job interviews, travel, meetings just to name a few of life’s directives were made possible by the wheels on a car.

We have grown up to accomplish many great things in life, and introduced relationships with wheels riding in your car.

But the most important fact about the wheel, is that it’s part of a beginning and a part of finality. Maybe it’s our attempt to reach back to a peaceful childhood or a effort to fix past mistakes. A combination of introspection and examination.

The first wheel was invented by copper miners in the Carpathian Mountains trying to make their mining efforts much easier nearly 6000 years ago. The result revolutionized transportation and created new innovations by miners crafting the new wheel.

: The first examples of the wheel were simple but paved the path forward for traveling expansion.

: The wheel in North America

: Henry ford and the wheel.

: Construction with the wheel

Humans have often been gifted with resolution and accomplishment when presented with opportunity. The vision to remedy adverse situations can construct maneuvers to survive in a hostile environment.

When it comes to weight loss and fitness, success comes down to our ability to overcome environmental dynamics. Recognizing that our human nature is not one to be captured our confined. A cage cannot be created strong enough to confine one’s positive outlook.

The wheel represents those things that we long for, and those memories that truly satisfy. If you are yearning for weight loss and fitness, maybe it’s time for inspiration from the wheel 🛞