inside my head




Cycling Thoughts at Night

 

Marketa and I are going canoeing tomorrow. I'm excited. I can't sleep. We'll be on a river. We'll have to cross the river at some point, that's where the food will be. The river has a current, but not too strong, she says. I'm imagining us on the river. What I can't imagine are the numbers. If the current is five miles per hour, and we paddle at fifteen miles per hour, which seems unlikely, but is a nice number, then what happens? What if the current is too strong and we miss our lunch rendezvous? If we paddle directly across the river at 15 mph that will be vector one. If the current pushes us downstream at 5 mph that will be vector 2. From the starting point, the resultant and theta will tell me what our downstream speed will be. From the pier (A) the resultant might be the square root of 15 squared + five squared, or the square root of 250, which is 15.81 mph. The current moves us faster than we would paddle without the current. From the pier (A) the angle of drift, theta, would be tan A = 5/15, or .333 . . . , or 18° 26'. We'd be moving at 15.981 mph at an angle of 18° 26' downstream. Which means, as far as I can tell, I'd better pack a lunch. Marketa says it won't be necessary. She's usually right about these things. It all depends how far downstream the lunch place is. And the weather. What if there's a strong up-current wind? Or down? What if it rains and it's choppy? What if one of us drops a paddle and we go in circles? What if we stop midstream to fool around? What if there be monsters? I don't see how we can know these things. How does anyone do anything? Life is utterly too uncertain. Maybe we should go dancing instead. Maybe we should stay home. I could get some work done. We could fool around a lot easier at home. I should wash the sheets. I wish I could sleep. Maybe if I do the numbers I'll fall asleep. Marketa and I are going canoeing tomorrow . . . 

 

 

 





Words by one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 809 times
Written on 2017-10-17 at 00:53

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shells
I feel it's best to trust Marketa and a good eye on water and weather. Memorable whatever happens.
2017-10-17


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Set and drift calls. Wow! I use these all the time but never thought I see them here. Going from point A to B on water does take a bit of math but honestly it's better to jest feel the river and adjust to it rhythm and flow. You'll get there in time and you'll have enjoyed the process rather than the goal. Life is the same. It's the journey not the destination. Fair winds!
2017-10-17



Going back to the math, I would suggest you skip the trip if you will be moving at 15 mph at an angle of 18 degrees 26 feet. It sounds a bit rough to me ... but then, there is Marketa to soothe the fears and eliminate the dangers.~~
Ashe
2017-10-17


Bibek The PoetBay support member heart!
Haha. This took me back to my high school Physics class. Anyway, happy canoeing. I'm sure it would be much fun and a lifetime experience.
2017-10-17



Please forget the math and enjoy the wonderful ride on the river. A slow ride that ends on the other side over a calm slow river will be a day to remember and cherish and an experience to want to experience again and again.

I could measure the size and the strength of the waves using complicated lorarithms when I go in the ocean, but I only look at the size of the waves and dive in under. Please, enjoy!

Marketa would never take you into a raging river, or are you going river rafting in white waters?

I can't believe you are. Slow drifting rivers are lovely and romantic and so very peaceful. Enjoy!
Ashe*
2017-10-17


Kathy Lockhart
Oh my gosh! Bless your heart. That lovely mind of yours. I can laugh only because I've done such a things as this. Not the math but the obsession. Well, maybe the figuring. Truly, I enjoyed this trip. :)
2017-10-17