Back to the tranquil triangle

Wow! What a beautiful day! Weeks ago, I selected this day as a vacation day, since the fiscal year was almost over and I had some extra days. Boy, did I luck out! The temperatures were in the upper 70s (perhaps even touching 80) and the winds were light. This is the kind of weather a cyclist (including me) dreamt of during our long, cold winter and spring.

On this glorious day -- and for the first time since early last October -- I rode the Great Western Trail - Illinois Prairie Path triangle, which courses its way through the villages of Winfield, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lombard and Villa Park. Although I've never heard anyone else refer to it as "the triangle," its shape clearly suggests that nickname to me. Since it was a work day, the bike paths were lightly populated and I could travel as fast (or as slow) as I wished. There were times that I did both.

I had forgotten how lovely the Illinois Prairie Path was, especially with the recent rains having transformed the surrounding plants into a lush "tunnel of trees." Only after the ride ended did I recall that I would surpass 400 miles during this ride. My seasonal total now stands at 415.3 miles.