What a day!!!, and I took full advantage of it. Today was another holiday Monday so I was eager to hit the trails early and see where two tires could take me. I had a quick breakfast, greased up the bike and boom, out the door, nothing but the warm sun and dusty trails in my future. A few ideas on where I wanted to go were popping up in my head but with the beauty of a bike, all that would change as quick as walk and don’t walk. Taking off from the house, zipping down the sidewalk, as long as I have two legs and a heart beat, anywhere is possible.

It was very hot, so I made sure to bring extra water which is vital on a day like today. You have to remember to hydrate, and oh yeah, make sure to wear sunblock, I was one for one and now I have a print where my backpack was. Anyway, there I was, riding through the park and taking it all in when the above caught my eye. I had to take a picture, I guess it was the way the red was contrasting the green. This brings me to a side-note, my photography, which I hardly call it that, is another benefit of getting out on the bike. I find that I absorb more of my surroundings, I see things that make me circle back and take another look. It’s poetic, I can take a simple moment like the above and interpret it any way I see fit, it’s natures way of giving back because I’ve finally slowed down to take notice. There’s something calming about my bike rides, it’s like i’m a boy again with the adventure, silly I know, but get on a bike and see how you feel.

I took it up a notch and went downtown, took the trail way all the way down to the south side point, and made good time too I might add. One bike bucket list for me was Fort Amherst, which is a historical site within the city that’s easily accessible and provided the perfect backdrop to a already awesome day. All of these pictures are from there, it was too gorgeous not too capture a few shots to share. I grew up in a very small rural community, so seeing the water, the boats, and the wharves brought back some really cool memories…ah the ocean.

Crazy happy to get out for a ride today, 36k for a couple hours wasn’t too bad. Have to say though, I’m pretty tired from the trip and along with the sweltering sun, it kind of zzzzzzzzzzz, oops sorry, it kind of kicked my butt to be honest. It’s a good butt-kicking though,  you know?, after you go one on one with mother nature. To challenge yourself to keep moving forward with everything you got, trust me, I had some moments but I dug deep and got through it. There’s a fitness perk with this bike riding too which is another reason I feel in love with it all over again. Yup, since I started biking I have discovered a whole new world right under my nose.  Places in this city I never knew existed and it’s still keeping me on my toes, even today was another road less traveled for me. My bike, much like writing, have become passions of mine, and today I got to do both…life is good?

Your turn…