Another beautiful day on the trails

  When I was younger I was so worried about what others thought.  I wouldn't join the gym in case anyone thought a heavy woman shouldn't be there.  I wouldn't ride my bike because I wasn't your typical bicyclist, tight nylon pants, sleek skinny wasp like body.  Matching jersey, pants, and socks with their helmet mirror set just right.   For too many years I put off doing the things I wanted to do....waiting until next year when I lost weight and could show myself without being ashamed.

    Thank goodness I got older and wiser.  Before it was too late.  Old enough to know my body is never going to look like that no matter what I do.  Wise enough to know I loved riding my bike and even like working out.  So who gives a flying turtle what anyone thinks.  Because life is way to short to think like that.  So I go to the gym.  I ride my bike.  My hair isn't perfect, it is dripping with sweat.  I don't wear makeup because it would just run on my beat red face.  But I am having fun.  I am in much better shape then I look.  I am having a better time then some I see on the trails....those who are there because it is cool to be seen riding a bike.  Like people who will only ride a harley.  It isn't about the ride to them, its about how they look to others.  With me.....its the ride.  So here we go.

    I wanted to ride early because it is cooler and the light is better for pictures.  I just can't get started early.  It was about 11 when we got to the trails.  Already hot and humid.  Today I wanted to hit every trail and some that weren't trails.  We started off by going on the maintenance road.  Just two tracks in the tall grass.  Not a bike trail...not sure if we were even suppose to be on it, but really nice anyway.  Not maintained.  Wild, like it would have been 100 years ago.  If not for the electrical power lines running through it.  Sigh.  Since it wasn't a real trail it was slower going and I stayed in 2.9 gear.


   We saw all kinds of turkey feathers.  Since we are having more sightings of mountain lions and bobcats in the area I kept my eyes pealed.  I would have loved some pictures.  But none showed their faces, just their scat and leftovers from their turkey dinners.  Rick was having bike trouble so I kept getting way far ahead before I realized he wasn't behind me.  So I made him go first.  Smart because in the trees the spiders have webs across the paths.


   We kept going in and out of the trees breaking up the trail until we got to the meadow I wanted pictures of the other day.


   Here were the purple and white flower I saw the other day and the smell, just heavenly.














  

     We used the washroom and then hit more of the mowed area.  Our goal today was to do every trail.  Back to the sand and grass and dried mud area's.






 I was drinking cytomax, a bike drink to make your muscles recover faster so was doing pretty good.  It is different riding on grass and sand instead of pavement or gravel.  More resistance.  It felt good to use my muscles.  My gut may be shot, but my legs are like steel.  Thank good something is hard like a rock on me, LOL.
  
    There were lots of people on the trails.  Am I the only one in the world who sweats and gets as red as an apple when I ride?  Sheesh.  They all look at me like they think I am going to code any second.  In reality I feel fine, just look like crap.  Trouble with being fair skinned and menopausal.  We hit the gravel trail and finished the loop.



   Rick was still having trouble with his bike.  He has 1500 miles on it so it must be time for a tune-up.  Better get it done before the Black hills.



We saw some neat things on the ride.  Don't know why my pictures are so fuzzy.  Need to clean my lens.  




   Watch out for the poison ivy.



    And the corn is looking great this year.  It must be at least 7 to 8 ft tall.



    We finished up the trail after seeing some pretty berries and a couple of snakes

.

    Our riding isn't as strong as it was last year.  I was in 2nd most of time instead of 3rd gear where I rode last year.  After 9 miles I was ready to call it a day but I could have done more.  The heat just saps your well power.  All in all 9 miles wasn't bad but it just didn't feel like enough.  I am worried about Rick this year.  I am ahead of him often.  He is lagging and not because he is taking his time.  He has trouble keeping up at times.  With me!  I can't wait until he gets his heart problems fixed.  I worry about him these days.  Hopefully we can have his surgery before our bike ride in the hills if we get to go.

   So after we smoked some chicken and had a lovely dinner we went downtown and sat outside drinking a bottle of wine and relaxing.  Life is good.

Bike Ride around Sioux City 2

  We got some new art work downtown, so we went for a ride.  First we started downtown on 3rd street and took the Floyd river trail to Leeds.  Not the prettiest starting point but central for our purpose.



  We wanted to see how they ended the trail now.  This part of the ride has no trees or shade so it gets very hot.  No place to sit or rest either.  Just a hot long trail, well not that long.  Only 3.5 miles to Leeds.  They had mowed and it was pretty.


  There were Canadian geese in the river and it was still fairly cool.



   At one time I looked back and Rick was way back behind me.  That doesn't happen often.


    At the end they didn't finish the trail.  To get to the street you had to drive over a dirt pile.  I hope they finish it when they get the track laid.  We didn't go all the way as we saw a couple of dogs, big dogs, at the end.  So we turned around and started back.





   Going back we were unfortunate enough to have to ride into the wind.  I hate riding against the wind and the 3.5 miles seemed like 8. 

   When we got downtown we decide to ride through town and take the new trail again.  I am trying to get my training in so if we make it to the black hills I can go further then 3 miles. 

   By this time is was hotter.  I had trouble getting my bike to shift into 1st gear, (yes I use the first gear occasionally going up steep hills), just call me whimpy.  I slipped my chain and did a real number on my ankle.  Rick fixed it though and we continued.

        I wanted to show this funny sign.  Duh.


   Starting to see more evidence the trail is being used, mostly by the trash people leave behind.  Ticks me off as there are garbage cans all along this trail.  And the big bad gangsters with their spray paint.  Get a life.

   Back to town I wanted to get the new art work they put along the streets.  They are so good from local artists.   Most were bronzes.




















     This one is called Victory.







   The one above is called A Close Knit Family, hummmmm







         The Kiss, I like this one.



   Downtown has planted some beautiful Lilies and you know how much I love flowers,
















   The next couple of sculptures I really like also.  Especially the Chocolate lab.













    Love this last one showing the importance of learning first, then games.  Titles Priority.

    The ride was only 15 miles and ended with my favorite.  A cold Widmer's at Sweet Fannies.