Today was full of events .... Had a good ride around town and on the Dry Creek Trail. Left home around 12:30, and rode into town to thet Post Office to check my PO box. Nothing interesting. Then I rode over to Save-Mart to get my favorite sub-sandwich -- wheat bread with turkey and pepperoni jack cheese with all the vegies. Rode to the north side of town to check out Sports Authority. Stopped off at Barnes & Nobles first. Picked up a map of Oregon. Ate part of my sub-sandwich outside of Barnes & Nobles.
Then browsed the sporting goods. Lots of good stuff. Will have to wait till I get my tax return. Bought three pairs of shorts, on sale for only $7 each! Went back to Barnes & Nobles and ate a quick snack of chocolate and fig bars. While resting pastor Rick came out of Star Bucks with his coffee. We exchanged greetings briefly. My thermometer read 80 degrees before I left to ride back into town.
As I rode back to town, I decided to hit the Dry Creek Trail to get in a few more miles. Before I hit the trail, I rode up some of the steep hills several times. While riding around, I noticed a tree with good looking fruit. I stopped and asked the guy if I could have some of the fruit (grapefruit). He gave me enough to fill my backpack! While riding around before I hit the trail, it felt like there was something wrong with the rear wheel. When I stopped to check, I noticed my backpack was hanging over the edge of my basket, about to fall off! The grapefruits were rolling back and forth, which was causing my bike to wobble. That was funny!
I continued riding around looking for more hills, and noticed the biggest tree I've seen around town. Looks like an oak tree that must be around 500-600 years old! I must take my camera with me next time and get a good shot of that old tree. Ran into a couple of Mormons. I recognized one of them. Stopped to talk with them briefly. We have chatted before ...
As I started riding the Dry Creek Trail I saw lots of squirrels running all around. The must be collecting the acorns that are falling from the trees. About half way down the trail, someone called out my name. I stopped and looked at the guy, but didn't recognize him. He told me that he was one of the clients when I worked at Nirvana. We had a nice long chat. He was riding bikes with his son and daughter. He has 13 months clean and sober.
I continued on towards the end of the trail (4.5 miles each way). There were hundreds of people along the trail -- kids playing at the jungle gym, people playing frisbee golf, walking their dogs, joggers, and cyclists. Lots of kids riding their bicycles along the trail today.
I had to find a place to stop and sit. The only place I could find was a fallen log. I checked really good for ants first! After resting for a bit, back on the trail. Two people riding a tandem passed by. When I got to the end, there was this guy who was repeatedly climbing the hill at the end of the trail. I joined him and we chatted a bit, then I headed back to the other end of the trail, while he continued to climb the hill. He said he usually climbs the hill 10 times.
I need to continue working on the hills .... I'm getting better, slowly ... Lots of people riding the dirt trails with their mountain bikes and single speeds. Riding back I noticed more blossoms than the last time I was on the trail. Two ducks flew right over my head!
When I reached the end of the trail (back in town), the sun had just set. Was getting quite chilly. Forgot to look at the temperature, but it must have dropped to the 40s! My hands felt like they were freezing. I forgot my helmet light, but did have my cheap headlamp on the bars, and my blinkie on the rear. Made it back home about 5:30.
Total distance for today was 26.3 miles! Average speed was 10 mph., 2 hours and 40 minutes riding time. Burned 858 calories.
sounds like you had a very good day.
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