What a
beautiful day for a ride. I took out early headed southbound and down. The Southwind
Trail lived up to its name as usual. I managed to start before the winds became
too strong though. My goal was to ride to Humboldt and then head west across
the bridge and out in to the wide openness of the Allen County gravel roads. I
hoped to touch the Woodson County line and then head back north and take gravel
back as far as I could towards Iola then hop on the highway and head home.
Southwind Trail
The ride to Humboldt was wonderful. It was great riding the trail again. About half way to Humboldt, I encountered three foxes (real foxes not cute girls) playing around in the trail ahead of me. I managed to get a picture of one of them but they did not let me get to close. As I began to approach the one in the photo, he took off and ran ahead of me for quite some time. He stayed out ahead by about fifty yards or so and eventually jumped in to the woods and I lost sight of him.
Fox in the Distance
In Humboldt,
I stopped at the Neosho River Park for a little break to stretch the legs a
bit. As I pulled in to the park, I noticed a gentleman who would later introduce
himself as Wayne Smith and his wife Peggy. Wayne is on the board that manages
the park and he and Peggy were out picking up fallen limbs and some trash that
others had left behind. I always appreciate people like Wayne and Peggy for
their dedication to taking care of the things we have been so blessed with
here. Wayne and I had a great conversation. I believe he said that he was 83
years young. He was also in the Navy during the Korean War. Thanks for your
service Wayne both then and now.
After
finishing my conversation with Wayne, I headed west out of town. I turned north
on 900 Rd. and then headed back west on Hawaii Road. I then headed out Hawaii
to 600 and headed north to Iowa I think. Whether it was Iowa or not, I headed
west again to Yarrow and then north. I came back east on something and then
took 400 north all the way to Nebraska Road. 400 is a fun gravel road to ride
with some great little down hills. Don’t forget though that in mountain biking,
what goes down must come up. Once I hit Nebraska road, I headed back east to
the rock house road and then north to the highway.
I always
enjoy the ride. I enjoy discovering nature, viewing wildlife and the freedom of
getting lost on county roads in the middle of nowhere. But the people that you
meet on the way are some of the most joyous gems to be discovered. I was able
to meet some great people today. Should I make it to 73 years of age, and no
longer be able to ride the mountain bike trails, I hope I may still be found
once or twice a week peddling somewhere between here and Humboldt or Carlyle.
And should I reach 83 years of age I hope I am given the time of day by some
young rider who finds me picking up trash in a park that I might share with them
the adventures that I once had on the same hills that lay before them.
