When I'm riding I sure feel normal; so why was my bike in a handicapped parking space??

      Well, as much as I like hitting as many different trails a possible, I got an offer to ride with five others Monday morning, which was Memorial day, and though it was the Wabash the second week in a row, I couldn't be more thrilled.  Most of them were Leapfrog teammates, the rest were being strongly encouraged to join our team (okay, badgered!).

    By now I was a pro at getting my bike ready for the ride, and by the time the others had arrived I had my tires pumped, helmet, glasses, gloves on and I was raring to go.

     Remember, I was telling you about the ride on this same trail the week prior, when a new riding buddy was in charge of the camera... It was a great ride even if the camera thing needed some tweaking... but in his defense, he had no idea what pictures I wanted him to take.  But this time I knew exactly where my points of interest were and I had my camera ready.

     See! I told you there were a million pink flowers lining the trail... well did I lie?!

     They were everywhere; I just had to be ready...

     I was pretty proud of myself; taking the pictures while we were riding.  I never once asked them to stop.  But about seven miles out, I realized that pink little windbreaker jacket I had on was a bad idea, and I noticed Ron had the perfect rack on the back of his bike... 

                                      
Incidentally, the pink goes really well with his lime green bike! I'll be sure he gives that back:)

      This almost looks like "drafting", but correct me if I'm wrong... don't you have to be moving to get the full effect?!?

     This was our half way point before we turned around and headed back. Just under ten miles. The whole ride would be just under 20 again. I love a good rest stop:)

    When I'm riding I sure don't feel handicapped, and I don't have a handicap placard on my bike; Do you think it's possible for me to get a ticket?? Relax... I'm moving:)

     This was my second ride for the long holiday weekend.  I just know I'll make it over that finish line at the bike to the bay, even if I have to be carried!  Now I seriously have to focus on raising money!  After all, isn't that why we're doing this!?!  Please help me!

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:)