Back to Botanical

Like visiting an old friend you haven't seen in a while I ended up back on my beloved Botanical Gardens route today.

Hazy Sun/Clouds

42 degrees

24 miles

I headed out today on the heavy old Trek 7500FX just to get back-to-back rides in before the rain and snow hit. I wanted to explore how clear my route to Whitnall Park actually was. I had to detour at the start, where the path at Bluemound is still buried in snow and ice.

But once around that, the only time I had to dismount was for a bit of an ice burg under the overpass at Wimmer Wetlands. The new blacktop in Root River Parkway is such a welcome change from the potholes I battled there for years.

As I turned into Botanical Gardens I suddenly decided that in honor of today marking the first climbing of this year's Paris-Nice race that I would go ahead and climb up my old friend "Barn Hill".

When I got to the top I decided to check on someone I know who works with the Friends of Botanical. She wasn't in, so I left a message with the nice lady I was chatting with behind the desk named Diane.

Having not eaten anything all day (I know, my bad) I had stuffed two granola bars into my jersey pockets as I headed out the door. Granola bars never tasted better as I munched on them inside the garden's new building.

I must tell you that throughout the season, of the 3,000 to 4,000 miles I ride, none are more beautiful than the ones I do in spring at Botanical Gardens when the crab apples are in full bloom and your legs and mind have a freshness  about them that only comes at the start of another riding season. Soon enough the crab apples will bloom there.

But for now I was just happy to be out on those sloppy roads getting a taste of being back outside once again.

Season Miles: 115