August opens with a great ride to Busse Woods

Today, with spectacular weather (but still slightly cool for July), I rode to Busse Woods via Meacham Grove and the Roselle Metra Station, made two circuits along Busse Woods' looping bike path (one clockwise and one counter-clockwise), and then returned home via Weathersfield Way and the Schaumburg Metra Station. Each time I ride along the paved bike path in Busse Woods, I enjoy seeing its diverse landscapes, from woods to prairie to grassy recreational fields. I also enjoy seeing the steady stream of cyclists, pedestrians, and in-line skaters who share the path with me. Even though I rarely interact with any of them, their appearance provides me with a nice break from my normal solitude of riding.

Today's ride was a half mile shy of 40 miles. Now that the weather has turned more summerlike (although its temperatures are still below average), I'm making up for mileage lost in prior weeks. My last three rides have been 51.2, 27.5 and 39.5 miles, making a total of 118.2. These three rides have raised my seasonal total from 661 to 779.2 miles, and there's a good chance that my next ride will crack the 800 mile mark.

Today also marks the day that I make my monthly contribution to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. My July contribution is $55, calculated from a total July mileage of 216.6.