Difficult - Beautiful ~

 For all the months I've looked forward to fall riding, it's taken a while for me to get back out on the trail...  Life happens & sometimes takes an unexpected turn.  After our birthday celebration at Matt-Makers for the birthday ladies, I was almost late getting to Silver City.  With Happy Trails now only open weekends in October, Mari Jo was waiting to get me back on my bike.

Corn now dry~

The last time I did this ride, was Sept. 15th. With only one other short ride in the interim, I'd had some difficulty with motivation. Once we were out - I realized how much I needed the exercise. I'd taken one day this week to mow the Marsh, but otherwise had been either sitting or driving for the last few weeks.
High overcast, cooler temperatures, but the humidly was over 60%, somewhat muggy. The little black biting bugs are out too. They hatch this time of year & like to hang out in the grassy areas. I ended up stopping to spray down.

On the trestle, we ran into riders Mari Jo knew, so stopped to chat for a while.  We hadn't decided on any particular distance.  I'd thought about asking to turn back, but me being me, we continued on to Malvern.  One of the trail board members was at the depot.  Again, we stopped to catch up on trail news.  By the time we were heading back, it was later than usual.  I knew I was tired.

Virginia Creeper~

Mari Jo was patient with me, but I was feeling pretty stupid for taking on 17-miles.  I made several stops & told Mari Jo more than once to go on without me.  I'm in awe of Mari Jo's fitness.  She's biked forever & rides in the highest gear on her Marlin.  That takes so much  leg strength.  I had her ride Breezy & when she returned, Breezy was in 18th - the Verve's highest gear.  I was riding in 3rd & 4th & still struggling.  I tried the Marlin too.  It's an extra small frame & fit me SO much better!  I wish the Verve had been available in a XS.

Harvesting Soy Beans~

The air was full of the dust from the fields, thicker in some places than others.  It is fun to watch how fast modern equipment can take down a field.

Mari Jo, on the trestle~

Another stop on the trestle.  I knew I had two decent uphill grades yet to go.  My mojo had gotten up & left.  I can't remember being so tired.  We'd stored the remainder of my friend Doris's birthday cake in the cooler at the shop.  Mari Jo went on ahead to take her bike home & get the cake out - which she accomplished by the time I arrived.

Almost back to Silver City~

So late in the afternoon, after five, the sun was already casting long shadows over the trail.  It was so beautiful & in the next couple weeks will be more so.

I made it back, barely.  My leg was hurting & I was mad at myself for overdoing.  Next time, I'm going to go for a shorter distance & work back up to what I did today.