Four rides on the Fourth of July weekend

Current Seasonal Total: 875.8

On my extended Fourth of July weekend, I rode four times in four days and added an additional 78.6 miles to my seasonal total.

Friday morning's ride (7/02) enjoyed near-perfect weather, with highs in the low to mid 70s and light winds. I rode through parts of Hanover Park, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates. During my return trip, I stumbled across the all-new paved path that links Ranger Park in Hanover Park with both Atcher Park (on Springinsguth) and Olde Salem Park (on Hartmann) in Schaumburg. I later learned that an "official" opening of the path was scheduled for the following day. My ride was 23.4 miles.

The weather was hot and humid for my remaining three rides this weekend. On Saturday, I rode late in the afternoon to the Meacham Grove Loop, where I spied a doe and two young deer on the steep hill bypass trail. They fled along the trail for a short distance before disappearing into the bushes and trees that line the crushed rock path. I was looking for a climbing challenge and I found wildlife as a bonus! I returned home along side streets in Roselle. My ride was 14.5 miles.

On Sunday (Independence Day), I rode to my nearest Starbucks in Dominicks Plaza en route to the West Branch Bike Trail, Wilcox Trail, and the new Schaumburg-Hanover Park path. Growing a little bored of the very same route, I detoured from my normal route along Kuhn Road's sidewalk for Woodhill and Woodlake Roads, which (I now realize) provides a better way to reach the Lies Road path. This will likely become my default route in the future when heading in that direction. My ride was 23.2 miles.

Originally, I planned to take a day off from riding on Monday, since the weather forecast called for rain. However, when it became clear that the morning would be rain-free, I took a short ride to my nearby Starbucks and then followed a new route along the perimeter road of the Stratford Square Mall to Covington, the Bloomingdale Court Plaza, Schmale Road, and the Lies Road paved path. My ride was 17.5 miles.

These four rides bring my total seasonal mileage to 875.8 miles.