December 1, 2011 ride - Centennial Trail

I will not try to "catch up" with my entries! I have found it is much easier to keep up with a blog when on vacation then during my normally usual days. But I do like to write about things I do, so will try to do that a bit more often.

November did not hold many cycling days for me (as in one is not many), so I was looking forward to doing a ride on this first day of December with Vickie and Kathy. It was a cold 38 degrees when we were ready to ride, and would warm up only to about 41 as our day progressed. But it was not raining ;'-)

Our plan was to start our ride from a different trailhead from our usual start, one that was a little further north and would allow us to explore the newly added portion of the trail within reasonable miles. First we had to research how to get to that trailhead by car. We pass it by bike all the time, but driving there added some question. The three of us arrived at the appointed time and layered up with plenty of warm wear to buffer that 38 degree temp.

Being an old railroad bed, this trail has only mild inclines - up from the start to the top in the middle, down to our turn around in the town of Arlington, and then reverse the up and town for our return. We stopped in town long enough to eat our packed lunches and to appreciate a little of Arlington's "flavor". Vickie demonstrated the "woollies" someone had thoughtfully knitted to keep the bike rack warm. Bike racks get cold too you know.

We found the "co-ho-ho" too good to pass up. 

Kathy runs an annual photo contest that starts in December and ends the following November. Anyone who takes a photo of her doing an outdoor activity through the year has a chance to win a dinner with her at a place of their choice. Kathy uses that photo for her Christmas card greetings. Of course this meant taking any advantage of avIalable photo ops. Vickie watched the workman hang lights in the gazebo as we tromped through wet grass for those photo ops.

By the time we were heading back the fog had set in for part of the return ride. We had all, fortunately and with experience, dressed appropriately for the weather and kept as warm as we needed. The fog added some artistic views through the trees and into the valleys, and we were soon back at the trailhead loading up for our drives home. Nice day in the saddle with good friends -- doesn't get much better.