Monday, June 27, 2011

Adventure by Bike

I ventured north this past weekend to visit with my parents and help them out with their yard work, chores around the house, and taking my mother out on errands to the grocery store and pharmacy. It's been difficult watching them get old and my father's health and the care involved is beginning to wear on my mom.
IMG_0933 by Vito1958
However, I was also fortunate enough to find time to venture out on the bike and log some fine miles through the forests north of town. It's amazing to me that a cyclist can venture out on these forest roads and often times ride for miles without encountering a vehicle or another person. I have yet to run into another cyclist on these sojourns into the forest. If I do meet people they are out walking their dog, in a vehicle, or riding on an ATV. Most of the time I get a surprised look, a smile, and a wave or thumbs up.
IMG_1037 by Vito1958
There are so many places that two wheels will take you. No motors, no noise, no exhaust, just the sights and sounds that nature provides. I feel sorry for those that only know of motorized means of getting around through the woods.
IMG_1035 by Vito1958
I tend to not worry about miles, elevation gain, intervals, speed, and things that would be considered "training" in many cyclists minds. It's the "ride" pure and simple, along with the sights and sounds you see and hear along the way.
IMG_1011 by Vito1958

IMG_1016 by Vito1958

IMG_1049 by Vito1958

IMG_1048 by Vito1958

IMG_1006 by Vito1958

IMG_0992 by Vito1958
Sadly enough it's not all beautiful scenery. It seems that lately on ventures into the northwoods this is becoming a much more common sight. Many of the woods I've known since childhood are looking more and more like the photo above. The arguments for and against it abound, but all I can say is that it's unsightly. Whether or not it is healthy for the forest and wildlife is not for me to decide. That's up to the experts, then again, I often think that it is the so called experts that have screwed things up to begin with.
IMG_0955 by Vito1958

IMG_0948 copy by Vito1958
I'm fortunate to have grown up in such a beautiful place and even more fortunate to still have the opportunity to travel north and enjoy it on two wheels.

IMG_0937 by Vito1958
I think this pretty much says it all :)

2 comments:

Doug said...

what a beautiful place to grow up. i didn't recognize the beauty and strength of the connection i had made with my own home turf (the Hudson Valley of New York) until after i had moved away, but it sure is nice to go home once in a while.

Boz said...

We do have it nice here up north. I found some great single track along the St Louis River in Cloquet last night. It's there if you want to look!