It seemed like it was going to be a terrible weekend for riding. I was busy on Saturday and the forecast said it was going to rain all day on Sunday. So I decided to sleep late on Sunday. I got up to find a dreary, rainy day, although it wasn’t actually raining. By the time I ate lunch and ran some errands and went home, I realized it still wasn’t raining. I looked at the radar and it looked clear. It was time for a ride! It feels weird now to say that a dreary 40-degree day is perfect weather for a ride, but it’s a lot better than the weather we’ve been having.

I headed out to do the Shilo Road route that I do from time to time. As soon as I got out of town I saw that the landscape was shrouded in fog. The roads were wet and sandy from last week’s snow (they tend to use more sand than salt in this area) — but my traction was good. Still, I took my time. I didn’t want to risk slipping, and I was really enjoying the scenery.

Tunnel Road

Shilo is a very twisty road with a very rough surface and switchbacks through part of it. I was a little nervous about this aspect of the ride, since the roads were wet and sandy from last week’s snow. But once again I took my time — more than I needed to, I’m sure — and my tires didn’t let me down. This was actually the first time I’d ridden on Shilo since I got my new tires and I felt a lot more stable with the wider (28mm) tires.

Switchback on Shilo Road

I had a lot of fun on Shilo — it’s mostly downhill in this direction and the twist and turns are fun, as are the numerous ups and downs. It’s a real roller coaster ride and while you could go faster if the road surface was smoother, I like the added challenge of all the bumps, potholes, poorly-patched holes and other irregularities. My camera, on the other hand, didn’t like this at all as my camera case, which goes around my stem and closes with a piece of velcro, fell off on one bump and my camera went tumbling to the ground. I didn’t even realize it until a few minutes later, so I had to turn around and go back for my camera. It still works fine.

Trees along Shilo Road

I stopped on a bridge to take some more photos. I don’t know what it is about bridges, but I frequently feel compelled to stop on them to get some shots. I guess they do tend to afford a view of … well, whatever is below.

Grimy bike

Creek

My bike by a field

Soon I was finished with Shilo Road and had a great ride back on Anderson, Old 37, Bethel, and 45. The fog thickened throughout the rest of my ride, making it a highly atmospheric, especially pretty ride. Total distance: about 27 miles.

View from Anderson Lane (damn power lines!)

Old Bethel Church

Someone’s driveway

Another driveway

The fog thickens

Little Debbie truck

Red barn

Trees and house

45

Another barn

Action shot