A Gift

The best way to describe the weather this past weekend is ... a gift. In a year that saw a very late onset of summer, a very cool and wet summer, and a very early start to autumnal weather, a weekend like this was hard to believe. But we'll take it! We certainly deserve it! By late morning on each day, the temperatures had risen to the mid to upper 60s. They would peak in the low 70s, which is very uncharacteristic for November -- especially so this year. Realizing that this may be my last opportunity to plan longer rides, I decided to ride the Illinois Prairie Path one day and Busse Woods the next.

Saturday was my Illinois Prairie Path day. I drove to Prairie Path Cycles, where I rode "The Triangle," as I call it. I first headed northwesterly, along the Elgin Spur of the IPP. At Prince Crossing Road, I joined the Great Western Trail and followed it eastward until it rejoined the IPP in Villa Park. I then headed westward along the Main Stem of the IPP (into a rather stiff headwind) and back to my starting point. The only surprise was in downtown Wheaton, where I discovered that the bridge over the railroad yard was closed for construction. Bikes were routed on a well-marked detour that only added a few minutes to the route. Skies were sunny with temperatures starting in the mid 60s and ending at 70 but with moderate southwesterly winds. I wore base layers of a long sleeve t-shirt and long tights in addition to my shorts and Livestrong jersey. I needed the layers when I was riding (due to the resulting wind chill) but I quickly heated up whenever I stopped.

On Sunday, I knew from the start that I wouldn't need to wear long tights, and I hadn't gone too far before I realized I didn't need the long sleeve t-shirt either. For most of the ride I simply wore my Livestrong jersey and shorts. Sunday was my day to ride pavement instead of crushed stone. The Busse Woods Forest Preserve was my destination. Like Saturday, the skies were sunny. Temperatures may have been a degree or two warmer, but they felt significantly warmer due to the reduced wind. It really felt like summer again! I began my ride at 12:10, rode to Busse Woods, completed two circuits of the loop (the first counter clockwise and the second clockwise), and returned home.

Collectively, I rode 62.6 miles this weekend, and I now find myself only 10 miles short of the 1400 mile mark. I am bold and determined to find those missing miles, regardless of the weather. Stay tuned! The 1400 mile mark is my new goal!