Wait ~ What?

 What did I agree to???

Pictured is my bicycle. It is a mountain/trails/road/gravel/ bicycle. It isn't meant for leaps and jumps, but more suited for decent terrain.

I have to push it up our driveway to get to the ridgetop so I can ride it. I haven't used it too much in the last two years as my hiking and bike riding buddy has bowed out of going to KVR with me.

During my long hike last Sunday I got a message from a cousin of mine and his wife. "Would I be interested in bicycling with them?" Sure! They were coming to my area and wanted to go biking.

The Reserve was out for them as E-bikes are not allowed unless you get a permit. Some say that isn't fair because bikes are bikes and people who can't ride the hills should be able to with E-bikes. 

Since 1997 the Reserve has not allowed anything motorized on the land. This dates back to 1995 when the land was under the Army Core of Engineers and there was no regulation. Lots of people came in with souped up, jacked up 4X4 trucks and blazed trails and tore up land. They used winches and chain saws without regard to the land and really caused quite the stir.

The Army Core of Engineers kicked everyone of the public land and closed it for a year. Then they only allowed equine and foot traffic back. 

The damages were pretty significant. Rich and I joined a club of equine riders that met each weekend to haul in straw and seed by equine. We tied rakes and shovels to our mules and went places to repair the damages and to reseed the lands. We worked on trails with sand bags to prevent erosion and rerouted washouts. Everything we did was by foot and by equine.

After all that work, the land became the Reserve and they cut out many of those repaired trails.

Anyway, that is the history of the why no motorized vehicles are allowed on the Reserve without a permit.

My cousin suggested the Sparta-Elroy-Wilton bike trail. It was an old railroad bed that years ago was transformed into a bicycle trail.

Saturday I'll meet them at the campground they are staying in and we'll saddle up and go riding together. My cousin and his wife have E-bikes.

My verdict on E-bikes is still out. But I see the reasoning for them. Older people can get out to do more trails with them. If you are not a hard core biker, you can enjoy more outside activities!
Tourism and money. 

More people can enjoy riding. It is pretty simple.

If I had one? I might be able to actually ride UP my driveway. I'm still on the fence, though. I like my bicycle and I too like the more moderate trails.

My cousin's wife texted me that we'd be riding about 30 miles and she'd pack lunch for us and my cousin would make us a fish dinner.

Gulp. 

Well I guess this will be a test of leg strength. After all. I hiked 9 miles last week. Why not try 30 by bicycle this week?

[thank you to my neighbors who will pick up my slack and keep an eye on my hubby!]

Trippin'

 Hubby and I are taking a weekend trip. This will be the first time we have traveled together on a mini trip since ....

well, 2007???

My job that I got in 2008 took up most weekends and I rarely got any time off unless it was well planned and almost always got called in. Trips became non existent after that. Most 'trips' were to the Mad City VA Hospital and I don't call those a get away.

I convinced him to accompany me to go see his newest Grand daughter in person. This trip will probably be a one-off. I don't see him doing it again as he is adamant about being home bound.

He has agreed to try it.

Things that are different now if we go anywhere together.

Organize meds. Bring 02, bring extra 02, bring the concentrator, CPAP, and all the various hoses. 

The drive time will be around 4 hours or so with or without pit stops. He is used to my driving now since he quit being able to drive after his stroke years ago. 

It should be maddeningly interesting to have the back seat driver next to me while driving through busy areas. I do it my way and he wants it done another. Hopefully, he will rest and snooze?

Charlie is going with us. This adds another dimension of complications and fun. Charlie hates the back seat but the front passenger side will be occupied. I have a new harness for Charlie that can hook up to a doggy restraint system that hooks over the back seat head rests. He'll have his 'car' seat crate stuffed with pillows so he can see out the window.

I'll have his doggy bed in the other seat so maybe he'd like that.

I've tried to figure out all of the angles for this ride. 

Seeing the newest Grand Baby will be a breath of fresh air and joy for him. It may be a taxing trip, but we are going to do it.

Best of luck to us! 

See yah....