August 21, 2011

   As expected, getting the biking in as school resumes has been a challenge.  I did have Tuesday and Wednesday that I got up early and went really quickly because they were days without kids.  Then on Thursday, I went out in the evening.  I decided to head down my country road route, but between the bugs and the howling dogs or cyotes, I was done with that pretty quickly and turned back into the city.

   I spent the week holding out for going on Saturday.  The plan was that I was going to be brave and meet my wife at the local Farmer's Market by my taking the paths and she taking the car.  I'd done a little bit of exploring of the paths on Sunday and wanted to see what else was there and how far it all went.  I was really annoyed that a bike ride was already planned and closing down all the paths. It was for a good cause, but it was in my way, and I was irritated and grouchy about it.  I probably needed to sleep in on Saturday anyway, but I was committed to going out this morning.  Bright and early, I got up and got dressed (the new leg and arm warmers were certainly nice to have as it was cold to start then I took them off as it warmed up).  After biking to the store and back so my wife would have her newspaper, I headed to the paths.  I had to do a little bit of city riding to get to the greenway, but it wasn't too bad.  Getting there, I got right on, and was again amazed at the ride.  It took me out into the country and wound along the river.  I was amazed when I was on a paved multi-purpose path as it ran parallel to a dirt country road.  I went to the path's terminus at a park and visitor center behind our new Super Walmart.  Turning back around, I saw a crane just out in the marshes.  I also saw a couple of squished toads.  And prairie dogs don't bark as much as squawk.

   What I've found is that most people out on their bikes are very friendly.  Nearly everyone who passed me wished me a good morning.  On the way back, there were far more people out as the morning grew later.  Making it back to where I started, I'd only gone 17 miles to my previous weekend's 23 miles.  I've also found that I begin to feel starved at about then, so I stopped and ate a couple protein bars then continued on.  Unfortunatelty, my curiosity of the greenway got the better of me and led me to the other end of the trail.  I kept thinking, "I had no idea this was here," as I wound down under roads that I didn't know had underpasses!  In the end, I went 30.5 miles this morning, just winding through town.  I did have a hill after 20 miles that was just too much that forced me to walk for part of it.  I came home and collapsed.  My legs are sore, but I'm already looking forward to next weekend....