Date: Nov. 3Mileage: 12.1
November mileage: 79.5
Temperature upon departure: 38
Rainfall: .10"
Perseverance Trail, again. I could ride this trail every day of the week, and nearly have this week. I usually avoided this trail in the summer because of the crowds. Hikers on Perseverance tend to be out to lunch - some literally were out to lunch, as in state workers on their midday break; and others simply could not or would not acknowledge me when I screamed "On your left! On your left!" as they staggered up the wide trail.
But as summer disappears, so do the crowds. I do not know where they go. This has always been a great mystery to me. Where do people go in the winter? The town's population doesn't change much. I still see garbage trucks picking up trash and baristas serving oceans of coffee. But everything else - the trails, the bike paths, the beaches, the back roads - seem to go into some kind of stasis. I wonder in passing where the people go. But frankly, I do not care. It means more room for me, and I am greedy greedy greedy when it comes to space. A trail doesn't have to be great for it to be my favorite trail - it just has to be scenic and deserted.
As I become more and more anxious for winter conditions, I wonder if it's really winter I like so much, or just the fleeting luxury of solitude? It must be a little of both, because there's something about following a light dusting of snow up the most popular trail in Juneau to its quiet and peaceful conclusion that's just so ... satisfying.
I to like the solitude of winter when most other cyclist are on indoor trainers or skis. Last year I rode on the flowage and it was like I was the only person left in the world. Great time for a little pedal meditation. jerry
ReplyDelete'Satisfying' is reading your great biking adventures and see your wonderful photos. thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that even here in Va our trails go from waaayyyyy over crowded in the summer to bare in the fall and winter and I love it!
ReplyDeleteMostly because I can't stand the rudeness that some riders possess; and those are the ones that usually "cherry-pick" the days to ride, so a cold day on the trail is still great as it's almost certainly all mine for the riding. :)
There are some core riders around denver and its nice when its crappy outside and you see the same dozen or so folks out when its bad... On the trail its all to yourself unless you have a few buddies who well venture out into the snow with yah... I'm lucky to have a few =)
ReplyDeleteCold days are the best!!!
ReplyDeleteI miss seeing my breath!
Cheers to WINTER and those who LOVE it!