bike ride

Biked 20 miles in Chadds Ford, near the Brandywine creek. Feeling pretty great about it because I initially thought I wouldn't be able to do more than 15 miles; as I am new to riding bikes. I feel like I could have definitely done more. This reiterates to me the fact that I always do better in my endeavors than I initially think I will.

Figuring out what I want to do about getting a new, lighter road bike. The single speed schwinn city bike just isn't going to cut it for this type of riding. I love it too much for what it is to change it; so I have decided to keep it and either build or buy another one. Thanks to a new friend I have something to ride in the meantime while I think on that.

the creature

I am on the hunt for a big green caterpillar I found in my garden. I think it is a Great Ash Sphinx caterpillar, or Sphinx chersis.

I have only seen it once and mistakenly left it in the garden, thinking maybe it would eat some of the aphids and mites that have been plaguing the eggplant. Upon further research, I learned that these types of caterpillars are otherwise known as "tomato hornworms"; they eat your precious fruits and vegetables! I went back to get him and any of his buddies, but they were nowhere to be found . I know they are in there somewhere, as the holes in my cantaloupes and the missing peppers tell me so. Interestingly enough, they haven't eaten any tomatoes.