December rides...

[emily_in_nc]

Eeek, sorry, NWG! Ice is the worst. I remember sliding backwards down our little rural unpaved road when we lived in NC and thinking "Hmm, I don't think I am going to be going to work today!" Do be careful.

Today I had a rare solo ride as DH wanted to lift instead. I found that being solo relieved me of any pressure to maintain a certain pace; and without pressure, I was actually faster than usual, go figure!

I did take a long break at a park to do some bird watching, and another at a fence to look at some cattle with HUGE pointed horns. I will post photos a little later once I get them uploaded from my camera.

A warm and humid day, but light winds, and it was just great to be out there. A bit over 32 miles total.

[north woods gal]

Sounds like a great ride, Emily. Been awhile, now, since I've been able to any distance road work. Sigh!

I did get a little daring, though, and decided to ride the fat bike on our ice covered, snow-packed roads, anyway, mostly to give the dogs a bit of a run. Got to love those fat bikes. Amazingly, the dogs were even slipping on the ice, at times. but not me on the fat bike. Even went off road down our lake access trail, riding on top of an ice covered snowmobile track left by one of the neighbors, prior to the ice storm. Only did three miles, but that's three miles that would have been tricky even to walk. Go fat bikes!

[north woods gal]

To be sure, Iowa is a lovely state. Not all corn fields by any means. Have some family that lives, there.

[emily_in_nc]

Here are a couple of photos from my solo ride yesterday. Added the beautiful Purple Gallinule to my birding life list. And the cattle were just incredible, and kinda bizarre. From googling, I think they are Ankole-Watusi, a breed native to Africa. Wowza!




Got in another 33 today on the trail. Another beautiful day! NWG, getting in even three miles in the conditions you're dealing with is impressive. Glad you didn't take any tumbles!