Last week, during my trip to Montreal, I wrote about (among other things) the autumn light and air. Well, today had a particularly autumnal feel--at least in part because the weather was colder than it's been in six months or so. When I was talking to my mother a little while ago, I joked that I brought the cold, and the season, back with me because I knew I wouldn't have any trouble getting them through US Customs!
Anyway, on a day so typical of this season, thoughts turn to foliage and red barns and such. Well, the leaves are starting to turn brightly in local parks and fallen leaves stream along the curbs. But there aren't a whole lot of red barns in this city. However, in some neighborhoods--including my own--there are houses that provide a rather nice backdrop for the blaze of colors.
But I also figured that if I went a little north of the city, the colors would be even brighter and there would be an even better stage for them. And Arielle, my Mercian Audax, was just begging to be ridden. And I wanted to ride her. The bike I rented in Montreal was actually pretty nice, but it still makes me appreciate Arielle--and my other Mercians--even more than I had before.
So, after pumping her tires and filling a water bottle, we were off to--you guessed it--Connecticut.
It was just past noon when I started riding, and I knew that it's starting to get dark around 6pm now. Still, I figured, it would give me enough time to ride there, take in some autumn light and air in the Nutmeg State, and get home before dark. Although I have lights, there are a couple of parts of the route I prefer not to ride in the dark.
I was riding against of the wind most of the way back--which meant, of course, that I was riding with it most of the way back. The funny thing was that I didn't feel I was pedaling particularly hard on the way up, in spite of the wind that, at times, gusted to 35 KPH. And I didn't think I was pedaling particularly fast on the way back. Yet I made it back before sunset.
Really, I can't ask for more of a Sunday afternoon ride in the middle of October.
When I got home, I felt invigorated, as I do after a good ride, but not tired. I often feel that way after long rides on my Mercians, but especially Arielle. Tomorrow, or some other time in the near future, I'll write about a possible reason.
Anyway, on a day so typical of this season, thoughts turn to foliage and red barns and such. Well, the leaves are starting to turn brightly in local parks and fallen leaves stream along the curbs. But there aren't a whole lot of red barns in this city. However, in some neighborhoods--including my own--there are houses that provide a rather nice backdrop for the blaze of colors.
But I also figured that if I went a little north of the city, the colors would be even brighter and there would be an even better stage for them. And Arielle, my Mercian Audax, was just begging to be ridden. And I wanted to ride her. The bike I rented in Montreal was actually pretty nice, but it still makes me appreciate Arielle--and my other Mercians--even more than I had before.
So, after pumping her tires and filling a water bottle, we were off to--you guessed it--Connecticut.
It was just past noon when I started riding, and I knew that it's starting to get dark around 6pm now. Still, I figured, it would give me enough time to ride there, take in some autumn light and air in the Nutmeg State, and get home before dark. Although I have lights, there are a couple of parts of the route I prefer not to ride in the dark.
I was riding against of the wind most of the way back--which meant, of course, that I was riding with it most of the way back. The funny thing was that I didn't feel I was pedaling particularly hard on the way up, in spite of the wind that, at times, gusted to 35 KPH. And I didn't think I was pedaling particularly fast on the way back. Yet I made it back before sunset.
Really, I can't ask for more of a Sunday afternoon ride in the middle of October.
When I got home, I felt invigorated, as I do after a good ride, but not tired. I often feel that way after long rides on my Mercians, but especially Arielle. Tomorrow, or some other time in the near future, I'll write about a possible reason.
No comments:
Post a Comment