Saturday – the big SLIP

I took off riding, cycling through the readouts on my bike computer, so I could note the length of this new section, etc. The main path appeared to splinter off into a wooded area, so I followed it into the trees. This path continued. Soon, I was beside the creek again, on what was obviously new asphalt, and newly seeded ground bordering the path. I kept riding! I was excited to be exploring my own “secret” path!

The path wound through the “backlot” areas of neighborhoods which were not even built yet. Also, flood control structures had not been put into place yet, so there were several large stretches of path that were silted over from runnoff of nearby construction plots. The MANY bridges on this section of trail were debris-packed on one side.

I rode for around a mile or two in this area, passing the occasional cyclist or family, exchanging greetings and warnings of “be careful!” around the mud. The trail ahead of me was ramping quickly up to a major road, where it appeared to end. I suspected that this would be the end of the new construction. At the top of this rise, a mother had stopped to catch her breath while her two boys milled around on the sidewalk parralelling the street.

“Does the trail continue from here?” I ask, just curious.

“Yes, it goes on for several miles…” she replied. Her boys came over to offer detailed instructions about riding on the sidewalk over the creek, then taking a loop down under the bridge, and continuing along. As I rode off, I asked them “How much further does it go?”

“About 6 miles!” came the reply!

Argh! I thought to myself. I began doing math while I enjoyed the scenery… I was already at 18 miles or so, and had only planned on a 20 – 25 mile ride. But my curiosity had me, and this was, after all, what I looked forward to on these trips – exploring the new trails. So I rode on.

I rode mostly southward, past a shopping plaza with a certain “chinese buffet” that was popular with Trynity and her friend from high-school. Long story – anyway, it was a significant milestone, as I could retriangulate my position. From behind this shopping center, the path came up to street level, and I ended up riding through a local bible college. Then, after crossing at an intersection, I picked up the trail again.

I was beginning to get hungry, and tired of riding. I started looking for good pull-off points, but kept convincing myself that the path must end here shortly, and then I would stop and rest. I knew I had exceeded my “comfortable ride” distance, as it concerned my return trip, and I also began locating “rescue” waypoints and taxi fares and things like that. But, I still enjoyed the ride.

Now, the creek had turned into a drainage ditch, but still the path continued. At street-level again, following a drainage ditch past a couple of elementary schools, and once again into a city park which I knew was very near the south edge of this city. Another mile of riding, and I saw a nice ramada with a play pit. I thought about stopping, but insisted on riding forward, now just by main force of will.

Three hundred feet later, I rode around a gentle loop in the trail behind a subdivision. This must be the fountainhead of the creek, and the end of the line for the path.

I rode back to the ramada, parked my bike, stripped off my pack and helmut, and eagerly broke out my lunch. I had brought (home-made) chicken salad, and 3 slices of bread. Without utensils, I kinda just swiped the appropriate portions out of the bowl with a slice of bread. I forced myself to eat slowly, and oooh how good it was! I took long draws from my water pack, and sipped at my Pepsi. A woman was letting her toddler lead her around. The little girl came my way, and we chatted about her daughter’s skills, while the child sampled the various river pebbles lining the playpit.

About the time I finished eating, a family pulled up. Husband, wife, wife’s sister, and two young boys (one to each family unit). They were picnicing with food from Dairy Queen, and were very entertaining. The dad/uncle and I chatted at length about the trail program. He told me about the plans to extend the east section all the way into the Plaza in downtown Metro Area. I told him I saw that new construction at the east end of the trail, but that it wasn’t quite ready yet.