Bike Trek to Shakertown

As you’ll see on in my “Things I want to do” post, I have been wanting to visit Shaker Village for some time. It’s a gorgeous little Shaker community here in Kentucky. Two of my other goals is to be more fit and to do more for charity this year.  So….how do you combine all three things? With the Bike Trek to Shakertown, of course!

This event is a 2-3 day (I’m doing the 3 day) cycling event in which we bike 30-60 miles daily. I’ll be training for this event all season this year. Actually, we’ve (my husband and I) already been doing some longer bike rides to prepare for it though it’s freezing cold here in Kentucky this time of year.

The Bike Trek to Shakertown event raises money for the American Lung Association. I have a cousin (by marriage) who has cystic fibrosis and had a double lung transplant in 2008. Unfortunately she is have problems rejecting the transplanting lungs and is currently awaiting an 2nd lung transplantion. I will be riding in her honor for the Shakertown event. Please send healing thoughts her way.

If you are able, please support my fundraising efforts with a donation. There is no minimum donation. All donations are tax deductible (you can print a receipt after your donation). Also, please spread the word so that others can support this great cause!

Click here to donate. 

Interested in riding? Email me at sabshire07@gmail.com

Long Bike Ride

It’s the little things in life that mean so much…like a 4 hour bike adventure with my husband. I love riding my bike. I love riding my bike with my husband even more. Yesterday we took a 30 mile bike ride exploring the local horse farms, Legacy Trail and then had lunch at a cute little market in downtown Lexington before heading back home. Here’s some pictures I took along the way:

I am horribly allergic to horses but they are so beautiful. I wish I could spend more time around them. I love this kind of horse…the ones with the spots. I always name them “Speckles”. 🙂 So there’s about 9542974 horses named Speckles around here in Lexington. haha

More beautiful horses!

Isn’t this a beautiful country road? I love it! So peaceful!

Overlooking I-75

Pretty Bridge on Legacy Trail

Just biking along. 🙂

Barn seen from Legacy Trail

Shorty’s Market – Lunch stop

The veggie panini was fabulous!!

Any store/restaurant this nice to the doggies wins my business! We shall stop there again. 🙂

Well what are you waiting for…grab your camera and go for an adventure then come share it with everyone! 🙂 

Lionfish

While I was at conference last week, I had the opportunity to visit an aquarium. Actually, it was part of our conference to mix and mingle at an aquarium after hours. It was heaven for science people to get to walk around with wine, beer, or soda and snacks and chat with other science people and admire the creatures without the general public being there too. It was like watching children in adult bodies as we marveled at the different fish and critters! I’m sure I heard several shrieks of joy and laughter as we explored the aquarium. It is definitely an experience I will cherish for years to come!

At the aquarium, I fell in love with the lionfish. They are so unique and one in particular was so friendly (can fish be “friendly?”) and photogenic! So today’s learning topic is the lionfish and I can share some of my photos from the aquarium with you. 🙂

Lionfish are native to the central and western Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea. I was suprised to learn that this  beautiful fish with the flowy pectoral fins is venomous. It’s stings are very painful for humans and other creatures but the stings usually aren’t fatal. Lionfish have 18 doral needle-like fins! Fortunately for other sea creatures, these fins are strictly defensive and aren’t used to attack. Lionfish are about 12-15 inches long and weigh up to 2.5 pounds. They rely on their camoflauged appearance and speed to capture their food (mostly shrimp and smaller fish). Lionfish are known to be hostile toward other fish and humans. They have became an invasive species in some areas (especially in the Carribean and western Atlantic Ocean) and efforts are being made to control the population. In 2010, Florida began issues licenses for divers to kill lionfish and many groups are organizing hunting expeditions to help control the invasive species. Although it is venomous, the lionfish can be eaten by humans if cooked properly. Don’t worry little Lionfish, I don’t eat fish. 😉