I went out at 7:30 this morning (38°) and rode, hoping for a longer ride. But once more my plans were waylaid by swirling thoughts ... this time not related to music composition, but rather, to family history.
I am friends with a Battle Creek woman, Jan Corey Arnett, who is known as "The Barn Lady" owing to her expertise on the subject. (Her 2013 book American Barns [Shire Publications] is a real classic.) This morning as we exchanged email, I mentioned to her my fondness for barns relating to one specific connection. Dad was born and raised on a farm in northern Fulton County, Ohio (just south of the Michigan state line), and the barn was roofed on the side facing the road with contrasting-colored shingles spelling out the name of his father, my namesake: "ALLEN BORTON." I told Jan of the immense pride I had as a boy whenever we drove by it; but I believe the barn came down 30 or more years ago, and sadly I have no pictures.
Jan suggested that I write to the newspaper in the area and see if any of their old files and records might contain such an image. So I'm eager to turn my attention to that project. (And, truth to tell, I was not overly distraught to keep the cold ride today fairly short.)
Anyway, in the end I settled for a single (brisk) round trip to Marsh Park, in 70 minutes. This brought to a close my riding for April, giving me a dismal total mileage of 218.4 miles in a month plagued by both mechanical troubles (again!) and ill health. It brings me, in conjunction with January (104.4), February (132.7), and March (283.7) to a total of 730.2 miles for the year so far. This is not good, on a monthly average basis—but, on the other hand, it's decidedly better than 2015, when I didn't even get the trike until May 2.
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