97th ride

I rode on the eastern part of the Poudre Trail again this morning, leaving just before 6:00 a.m. again and getting the furthest I have made it yet. But I came just short of my hopes to ride an hour out and an hour back. I got well past the point where the Spring Creek Trail forks off, which I hope to take on the long ride I want to do Monday. When the paved trail ended in a gravel parking lot east of Timberline Rd. and north of E. Drake Rd., in the Environmental Learning Center, I incurred a minor fall when the bike skidded out from under me while trying to turn. I was 51 minutes in at that point, and, as I got a few small scrapes (heel of my right hand, left elbow and knee), I decided it would be a good time to turn around and head back.

On my way back, though, I discovered (not for the first time) that, although the Poudre Trail is a nice ride, it is not uniformly well marked. Though many (most) parts are well marked, there are forks and turns that are not marked at all. I encountered one of these areas on the way back, and was driven (like yesterday) to refer heavily to the map. But eventually I was able to find my way back to the trail, and finished up back at the Loewens' house, completing a ride of 19.8 miles in 1 hour 54 minutes.

When I came in, I was grilled about my boo-boos by both Michelle and Christy, but after I showered up, Michelle bandaged me up nicely.