Is this a bike ride or a grade school field trip??

    There is absolutely nothing I enjoy more than a good bike ride (well, except maybe chocolate...).  And though I love all the trails I've been on so far, a change of scenery is nice from time to time.

     I heard Side Cut Park finally put in a paved bike trail, and I just had to go check it out.  The trail within the park it's self, I was told, isn't very long, like a traditional bike trail typically is; but I could always lengthen it by riding beyond the park.

     Last weekend, my riding buddy, Mitch, was up for a ride so we both decided to go and scope this new trail out.  Honestly, I think Mitch was more interested in redeeming himself, after missing a lot of great pictures last time:)

     As we were getting ready to head out on the trail, I noticed two awesome looking bike type things heading towards us.  I've only seen this type of bike in advertisements, but always thought they looked like a lot of fun.  They appear to be kind of like cross country skiing and cycling wrapped up in one.

     It turns out, the riders of these unique contraptions were Bob and Pam, who were fellow leapfrogs!  I told them I've seen these a lot, but never in person, and they looked like a blast. Bob asked me if I wanted to try it out...

                     

     I've jumped thirteen thousand feet from an airplane, and you would think I would be all over this.  But then I looked at the logistics of it.  I can barely walk a city block without the threat of kissing the pavement; now I'm going to try to walk and ride at the same time?!? That machine was very expensive, and I just couldn't risk crashing it.  

     I passed... but later that day I was kicking myself for not at least trying it...

     So I got on my "safe" bike and wished them a great ride:)

     Knowing our bikes weren't going to ride themselves, we finally made our way to the bike trail.  After all, Mitch had to get busy on those pictures... being the slave driver that I am:)

     This was a really nice bike trail; without a million cracks, like most of the trails around town.  But it wasn't long before the trail took us out side the park and along the Maumee River.

     Okay Mitch, cool picture...

     As we were riding along River Road we passed this cute little cemetery.  I never did catch the name of it; though Mitch did comment it looked kind of pathetic.  Oh, I'm not so sure... I've heard people are dying to get in there... I know... I'll keep my day job:)

     Take a look at this extremely steep hill.  To give you a perspective of just how steep it was, notice those lines; they were outlining speed bumps that were strategically placed so the cyclists coming back down didn't end up like a run away train. Now, going up over those bumps was another story...

     Interestingly enough, this hill looked vaguely familiar to me.  It was a lot like that hill on the other side of the Wabash Cannonball Trail; the one I once told another riding buddy I would never. ever. ever. go up again...  but we were by Side Cut Park, not Fallen Timbers... Oh, then Mitch says this trail takes us to Fallen Timbers... I've lived in or around Toledo all of my natural life (and then some!).  You would think I would know my way around the surrounding burbs; but obviously not...

     I managed to huff and puff my way to about thirty feet from the top, before I got off of my bike and dragged it the rest of the way up.  Never. again... Where have I heard that before...

     Soon, this ride became a history lesson... Here's the monument of the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

     Directly adjacent to it was this awesome view of some sort of ravine or something. (give me some slack. I didn't bring my note pad...)

     I don't know exactly what he was thinking, but if I didn't know any better, I would guess Mitch was trying to decide if riding off this cliff would be less painful than listening to my idle chit chat....

     He must have decided to tough it out, because he was back on the trail again.

                                     

     Next we found ourselves riding over the freeway, which was another chance to jump ship.  Good thing that fence was there:) And before we knew it, we were at the Wabash Cannonball Trail.  We rode on it for a little while, but I've been on it twice already this spring, and I wanted to explore some new territory.  

     So we headed back to Side Cut Park and crossed over the bridge to see if anything interesting was on the other side.
                                         
      The paved trail went on for a little while longer, but we would soon come to the point where it was no longer conducive to road bikes.

          I know Mitch had taken a million cool pictures by this time, but when I saw these steps, the wheels in my head started turning... An awesome action picture, maybe involving a double flip, would surely get a million likes on face book! And although I've never actually experienced road rash myself, it would probably be a pretty cool picture as well:)  I offered Mitch five bucks to ride down these steps... 
                  
     Surprisingly, he declined. What happened to taking one for the team??

     I guess those action pictures are going to cost me a little more cash than I'm willing to part with.  oh well...

         By the time this ride was over I was on my way to becoming a real world scholar:)  Notice, no pictures of pink flowers this time; but I did get a History, as well as Geography lesson on this ride.  It was a true ride of exploration. Columbus would be proud!

     And I'm guessing if you spun me in a circle and put me in front of that huge hill, I'd probably climb it all over again.  Just don't tell me where I am!! :)

Please sponsor me in the bike to the bay!!
www.bikems.org

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Spring is a great time for the North fork of the Wabash-Cannonball Trail!

     If there was a pick day of the season so far, I would say last Sunday was definitely it:)  Getting out on my bike was a no-brainer.  This would be the first time this season I would ride on the north fork of the Wabash Cannonball trail.  The South fork is mostly corn fields and blazing sun, so I usually like to save that for fall.

     This time I rode with a new riding buddy, Mitch, who is also a fellow "Bike To The Bay" rider.  By now all of my other riding buddies know the routine, quirks and all.  It's not a ride without pictures. I like to think of myself as an amateur Photographer (wanna-be).  But Mitch still had to be schooled a bit...

     Of course I gave him two options, he could prepare to make several slow downs and stops, or he could carry the camera and take pictures as they present themselves.  Being that he's a seasoned rider, I think he thought holding the camera was the lesser of the two evils.

     We hadn't gone very far  before I saw some awesome pink flowers growing out of the rocks along the side of a bridge.  Normally I would yell "STOP", I would take the picture and we would continue on.  But Mitch had the camera, so I yelled "TAKE A PICTURE OF THOSE..." Never mind, we're past them... 

     And as you can see, on the other side there were no flowers:(  Oh well, maybe on the way back:) 

     At one point the trail was peppered with bright pink flowers on both sides, but by the time Mitch pulled the camera out we were past them.  Oh well, maybe on the way back...

       We did see a photo worthy view at one point and Mitch said how about this?  Sure, it wasn't pink flowers, but it was a cool picture, and proof that spring was here:)

        And this tree was ripped out of the ground at the roots from a recent storm;  That picture was Mitch's call, but very interesting to see none the less.

     As we were riding a little further, Mitch stopped and said "hold on, I saw a turtle on the trail back there".  So he rode back to rescue it.  I never saw the turtle, but I trust it must have been there.  Could I really have been so consumed with the scenery that I almost ran over a giant tortoise?!?  Guess I need to focus...

     But as soon as Mitch bent down to rescue the poor little guy I yelled "WAIT", TAKE A PICTURE!!"

     Okay, it wasn't a giant tortoise, but this poor little guy sure looked fearful for his life. 

     Notice in this close up, he made sure to pull every extremity back into his shell.  He had his own personal storm shelter.

     We finally made it back to that bridge and there was no way we were passing it again with out a picture of those pink flowers.

     I know you're probably wondering why I'm riding on the wrong side of the trail (if we were in Europe no one would even think twice), but  while we captured the flowers I figured I may as well have proof I was actually riding by getting in the picture:)  Illegally, but at least I'm riding!!

     The ride ended up being just under 20 miles, and the good news is, we rode non-stop for ten miles each way.  The Bike To The Bay has rest stops about every ten miles, so I know I'll be ready:)  On the way back however, I did have to shake the feeling back into my hands, but I survived...

      My bike rides, as well as my life in general, can tend to be complicated.  I'll be the first to admit I'm a high maintenance rider.  But all the pictures make me happy, and having someone spot for me is huge.  I've just excepted the fact that improvising is my way of coping.  Incidentally, all of my riding buddies know this by now and have graciously accepted it.  I'm very fortunate to have such great friends.  

     Mitch made it through his first high maintenance ride unscathed, and If I haven't scared him off, the next time should be a breeze!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

All I need is my bike; and the will to ride it!

          I really can't complain about this winter, after the past few arctic blasts we've had.  But that doesn't stop me from going stir crazy on my indoor trainer.  When I heard the weather forecast for this week I knew this was finally the time to get my bike off that stationary platform and hit the trails again.

     I really love my bike, and if I turn on my favorite music I can manage to force myself to ride on this thing and stare at a boring wall for the good of training.  After all, they call this a "trainer"; not a "riding on a beautiful trail...er"...

          Yes, that treadmill in the background is my alternate form of cardio, but I am sick to death of getting up every single day only to have these guys staring me in the face!  So why do I do it, you ask... because I can!!

      Monday morning was the day I planned to put an end to the craziness, and with any luck the warmer weather would be here to stay, and I would be back to my outdoor riding again.  

     However, it was too soon to start begging my riding buddies to get out side, so that would mean I would have to visit my trusty old "safe place", Olander Park.  But I don't mind; I love that place!

     Monday was the first nice day but My bike was still immobile but I just had to go see what I was dealing with; so It was off to check out my favorite park; Olander...

     As you can see; this park had no signs of winter whatsoever!

        Granted, it had taken a beating from all of the snow, but the snow was gone so I didn't care how it looked.  After all, beauty is only grass deep:)

           I think the ducks were in agreement!

     Now I just had to get my bike off the trainer and pack it in my car.  Wednesday was the soonest I could get out so my fingers were crossed that the weather held out until then...

     So that part was taken care of; this is where my bike used to be...

     I packed it in my car and Wednesday afternoon I headed back to Olander Park.

     Luck was really on my side this day because it was a perfect day for a bike ride!   The sun was shining as brightly as I've seen all season.

    As I took my bike out of my car I knew I had to get my trusty camera/phone out, because... well, you should know the routine by now:)

     When choosing a photographer I always make sure not to ask anyone who appears to be trying to get their workout in for the day, because I wouldn't want to feel guilty for causing them to slack off.  But then I noticed a young man sitting by himself on a park bench fishing.  I really hated to disturb him, but I looked at it as giving those poor fish a break,ha,ha.

        He was more than happy to take a picture.  He told me he wasn't having any luck with the fish that day anyway.  After a few minutes of idle chit chat it appeared that I must have been slightly more interesting than staring at a pole in the water, so I didn't feel too guilty:)

     of course it had been several months since I had been on this contraption with out the trainer (or more or less, training wheels that go nowhere...), now I just had to see if it was like the old saying... it's just like riding a bike:)

     And low and behold it felt like I hadn't missed a day.  And I think the geese had found their land legs too, because we were soon playing a game of chicken on the trail (or is that "geese"...?)
                   

          So after a few laps around the lake, I was able to chalk this first ride up as a success.  And now I was on a mission to get back to all those serious trails again!!  Trust me... I will, real soon!!

 Have a great day!

Christine:)

Over the river and through the woods...

          "Over the river and through the woods", pretty much summed up our bike ride this past weekend, because we never knew from minute to minute whether we were in the  the big city or "hicksville".

     It started out on the east side of the Maumee river, in International Park, and from there our route took us on a wild goose chase (you'll see later...)

          The rays from the morning sun beating on the river painted quite an illumination of the Downtown Toledo skyline.  

          Heading out to the trail we passed by the Willis B. Boyer, which is a striking ship to see.
                                               
          We could see the iconic silhouette of the newly renovated I-280 bridge off in the distance, and after a few obstacles we would soon be riding under it.
          As you can see, the expressways all through Toledo aren't the only places causing us grief in our travels...  The Riverside Trail which was where we would begin was also a big crazy mess.  But once we dragged our bikes across this muddy heap it would soon be smooth sailing again.

                                         
        After we were on the other side of the construction we spent a good part of our ride going over and under bridges.  Pictured below is the I-280 bridge.

     And next we would be riding over the Craig Street Bridge, and as I took this picture of downtown Toledo you'll notice my proof; I actually take these pictures while I'm riding... riding on a bridge, one handed while snapping pictures... I'm becoming a real "dare-devil":)

        This was where city met country...

     Remember, I told you we were going on a wild goose chase...:)

     So we were over the river, now we had to make our way through the woods, but grandmother's house was nowhere in sight...

     And the horse didn't have to worry about any snow either...

     So once again we were back under that highway... by this time I was beginning to feel like a troll... :)

                                      

                          But how cool is this view...

     And before long, we were finally in the home stretch, heading back to International park; where we started.

                                        

     I just loved this ride, with all of it's change of scenery, and just like real life, it might sometimes seem like a wild goose chase...

     But I'll take that occasional goose chase, because I know at the end of the day...the view can be pretty awesome!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)