Season opener

Didn't really ride through the winter this year as I did last year. Weather? The blush off the rose? A million excuses present themselves but the real reason -- more elusive. In January and February, I probably rode three or four times and none of them long or notable. I did manage to get a quick and miserable ride in two weeks ago just before work, out to millvale and back through construction and muddy muck. Sadly I didn't even enjoy it much. But this weekend -- hooray.
March 10 -- I did 25 on Saturday, the usual around town stint. happened upon Linda smith and her husband bob where the trail ends in south side, where they were watching a pair of nesting bald eagles. I will try for a pic tomorrow. I was thrilled and breathless and excited. I will be a frequent visitor. Also did the "new" hazelwood spur and hated it, as usual. The surface is terrible, even in the best conditions. Who would ever ride that for pleasure? Then dashed over to the aviary to meet Lou but he ran 13 miles and bailed on meeting me so i dashed back over to the otb bike cafe in southside and met him for dinner).
Sunday, march 11 -- we drove up to warren ohio, a bit less than 2-hour jaunt, and tried out the western reserve greenway. Flat, paved and fairly unremarkable in Trumbull county; a little more interesting on the Ashtabula side. A bird observation area at mile 10 of the 43-mile trail connecting warren and Ashtabula. Lots of beaver activity.We did about half and turned around because Lou was way overdoing it. It was marvelous to be back out on the trail. I rode the rocket but it would be a good choice for the Saratoga, which is probably a bit faster than the rans. And with all the road crossings, it's easier to start up from a stop and visibility's a bit better. It even occurred to me it would be a decent choice to do my first century on that trail if I were so inclined... No water or amenities on the trail at all -- a portajohn at the starting trailhead but nowhere else along the way -- and the stupid portajohn was locked. The trail did go through Amish country, especially up Ashtabula way. There was one elderly Amish grandpa looking guy riding a motorized enclosed little golf cart looking contraption in the trail. Never saw one of those before...