I went for an early morning mountain bike ride with DH and his friends. It was a very cold 25 degrees. I had on tights, long sleeve jersey, full gloves, and a hat. I had planned to wear a wind vest too, but at the last minute I grabbed my post-ride sweat shirt and threw that on as well.

It was a beautiful morning. The bright leaves falling everywhere and the ground covered in frost. I rode about 9 miles out by myself (the guys are way too fast for me). Then turned around. I picked up the pace for the second half of the trail.

About 2 miles from the end, I stopped dead on the trail. Less than five feet away from me, on a low branch across the trail, was a huge white owl I thought I was seeing things. We stared each other down for a minute. And then he unfurled his massive wings and flew up to the next branch and stared back down at me. He was gorgeous.

I finished up the last two miles. Waited in the car with the heat on high for DH and gang. We stopped for real apple cider and fresh-out-of-the-oven sugar doughnuts on the way home.

It was an awesome morning.