Sunday 8/30/09 rides

[owlice]

I had a bifurcated ride. I started out on a trail I usually like, but today I was not feelin' the love, so stopped riding after 20 miles, got gas, got something to eat, stopped by my house for a few minutes, and then rode my usual trail for a little over 9 miles, so 29 miles for me today, making 50 for the weekend.

I didn't hit the second trail until almost sunset, and wow, was the sunset gorgeous!! The trees in the swamp were nicely silhouetted against the pink and blue of the sky, and a frog chorus was just getting underway. I just got lights, so tried them out tonight and was happy.

I saw a doe and her fawn at the park where I left my car; they were grazing in the open field there. While riding the first trail, I saw a Great Blue Heron in the creek; I cannot recall EVER seeing a Great Blue in that particular creek, and that creek and I go back decades! (I remember fish spawning in that creek when I was five years old; by the time I was ten, no more spawning fish. )

And I saw a Green Heron bebopping along the creek by the other trail. I see them in the swamp, but not usually along the creek.

Oh, and on average speed, I'd be THRILLED if mine were 12.anything! Today's average was 9.1 MPH. The first trail had a few little hills; I was going up one of them, and passed a mom pushing her daughter's little bike up the hill. As I passed the mom, I said, "I'm not having nearly the fun I thought I'd be having!" She felt the same! The 2 or 3 MPH I was doing up some of the hills ... yeah. At least I didn't start sliding backwards!!