After 2 months of cold, ice, snow, rain, and 2 weeks after a minor birth-control surgery ("v"😉, it
was 80 deg F and sunny and I just had to ride. So I checked out the American Tobacco Trail which is
part of the NC Rails-to-Trails system.
ncrail-trails.orgPHOTOS.HTMOpen ↗
The completed portion goes for 6.5 mi. 1 way of "paved" trail about 6' wide, with a 1' shoulder on
each side. It snaked through the town of Durham NC. I thought some of it was going to be dirt but I
was wrong - it was all paved. I rode the first couple of miles on my (overkill) FS (the only bike I
have) on the pavement but I got tired of the hum the knobbies made so I started riding on the
shoulder - much better. After all I had a mountain bike. At least I was riding on dirt now, and the
hum disappeared and my tires don't wear out as fast. I rode the one way non-stop (only
6.5 mi. remember?) and I was, to my surprise, not tired at all. I met a couple of joggers and a kid
on roller blades going the opposite way. Once I got to the end of the trail, I took five,
stretched a little, and then headed back. I met the same joggers and kid on roller blade again,
and a couple of other bikers. My allergies started to get the best of me and I was sneezing and
sniffling and blowing out jonesies while riding. I finally made it back to the car and checked out
my bike 'puter, which read, 13.0 mi. total, avg. speed of 12 mph, total time of 1 hr and 2 mins.
Again amazinly I wasn't tired - even after 2 months off the saddle.
Tomorrow the single tracks should be opened so I'll be riding them for a much less boring ride. But
like I said, it was a ride! And it felt good to the body and soul...
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- Zilla (Remove XSPAM)