Day 28, Ride 19

Well, I waited and waited and waited for the stupid rain to stop, much like two of my days last week, but it wasn't looking good. So hubby and I loaded up and went anyway. It actually stopped a little when we got to the trailhead. But .5 into my ride, it turned into a downpour. Six miles of it. I stopped after six under some shelter to try and wait it out some more and it finally let up. .5 into mile 7 and it was back, though not quite as bad. I stopped at 10 miles, checked to see if the trail repair got held up by the rain. Looked good. Went a half mile and found equipment and pilons blocking so I turned around and went back. On the way back, the downpour returned. I was done. So only 11 today, but still better than nothing. I'm on target to hit 300, 100 more than I pledged, by Wednesday. Hopefully the rain will dry up, at least through Wednesday. We are in a drought so we need it. Just wait two more days please!

Day 25, Rides 17 & 18

Thankfully, the last two rides were uneventful, which was welcome. No more weirdos with no pants at the trailhead. Thursday a sign popped up saying part of the trail will be closed for repair, starting Monday, for 2 weeks. Didn't find the other sign until Friday. It's only around an .87 mile section but it's right in the middle of where I ride. Going to have to get creative on Monday-Wednesday, with hubby's help, since I don't ride in traffic. And Friday I saw two adorable baby deer chilling in a semi people populated area. No mom's or dad's in sight but do we approach? Nope. Wild animals. The wild life just makes the rides more beautiful and interesting...except for the geese!

Day 23, Rides 5-16

Well, there's only 7 days of the month left. It's actually been relatively uneventful riding the last few weeks. Just your typical sheeple encounters, including a couple who very much did not appreciate me calling on your left before I passed. Saw a few more snakes, some crazy birds, a hummingbird, lots of ducks, including an oddly colored duck, and geese, one who didn't seem to like my presense at the Winchester trailhead. I've also had several delayed starts due to rain and managed to get out and back twice in-between storms. The DNR has still been out there, as well as a car marked Draper Canyon Police. ?? I also encountered an undercover car on the trail my Midvale, my home trail. But the normalcy changed today. Hubby was dropping me at the 12600 S trailhead. Two Draper Police vehicles were pulling in just ahead of us. After we got parked, we observed the two officers talking to a man, near the children's playground area, whose only clothing was a shirt wrapped around his waist and, um, man stuff. Um, what the hell? Two more Draper police cars arrived and three of the officers were walking around the area with evidence bags, collecting stuff. One of the garbage cans was full of clothing. ?? One of the officers met up with an undercover officer and they walked a bit down the trail. They managed to find the man shorts, in the other trash can, which they had him immediately put on. Then pants, socks and shoes and finally the shirt. A firetruck and ambulance came during this, briefly assessed the man and left after 10 minutes. Then he was arrested and put in one of the police cars. And people wonder why I always carry a stun gun! The only other insanity today was nearly taking out an unattended kids at the Shields Lane trailhead then watching her nearly take out three other people before brain dead dad told her to look both ways and then went to get his other two kids off the boat ramp and away from the water. 🤦‍♀️I was disappointed at Gardner Village twice when I saw the crane there getting ready to put the new bridge in place and I had to leave so I didn't get to see. So, with 7 days left, 5 of which I will ride, I look forward to seeing what other craziness riding the trail will bring into my life!

Day 4, Ride 4

Nothing exciting today. Just lots of wind. Put in an extra 2 miles so I could end my week at 50. Good first week out.

Day 3, Ride 3

Well, today was a good day. Not as much wind as yesterday but it kept blowing different directions which is always fun...🤦‍♀️ The most exciting (and annoying and terrifying) thing was a little over 3 miles in there was a SNAKE on the trail! Not a huge one but not tiny either! I HATE snakes!! Fortunately, not much to worry about at a 15 mph clip but still...😲 Did I mention I hate snakes? Anyway, that was pretty much all the excitement except for dodging people who insist on walking two or three across the trail and then glare after you shout on your left and pass them. 🙄 After not riding for 11 months I thought it would take longer to acclimate, that I'd have to ride in lower gears, etc but nope. I'm a bit stiff after but feel pretty good otherwise. I love riding and I love the cause I'm riding for. 😃

Day 2, Ride 2

Today was better than yesterday and also not better. No DNR truck, nothing too crazy. Still way too many "sheeple" for my liking but what can you do? The biggest problem today was wind. Steady speed of 20 mph with some serious gusts, two of which nearly blew me over, one time right before I crossed a bridge! The water under 7800 S was still there but not as bad. Still had to pedal through it but definitely not up to my knees anymore! Sad I only saw one deer today. Saw a whole flock of ducks and, thankfully, none of them had a "waddle in front of a bike" death wish! I still spent most of the ride running from another dark, ominous looking cloud but no rain. That will happen when I leave unprepared! Still, it's always a great day out on the trail. See you out there!

Day 1, Ride 1

Well, overall today was a good ride. I haven't really riden since September 30 last year, except for a couple of rides last week. I'm struggling with weight gain due to some health issues that hasn't gotten better in the last year. But still, it was good. I could have done without the 15 mph wind but...🙄 But it is still always an adventure out there between people who take up both sides of the trail and wander like lost sheep and the duck I nearly hit...🦆The DNR had a utility truck on the trail in Draper. Wonder what they were doing... 😲 I saw a squirrel running an obstacle course, dodging golf carts on the golf course. Then I nearly hit a golf course maintenance cart when the moron pulled in front of me...😡

Then I got to 7800 S. Standing water in the "tunnel". Saw a guy ride through. Ok. I'll ride through. Bad decision. Water 3/4 up my tires. Pedaling through that much water provides no momentum for the hill at the end. Still, if I'd have walked through, it would have been up to my knees. And still better than when me and three other people were trapped under there in June 2018 during a bad hail storm! Toward the end, there were deer (behind a fence) and the baby one was adorable. And I didn't get rained on, though a dark, ominous cloud dogged me for the last 5 miles. Good day!