Riding and Rolling Along

Today:
Bike ride: distance 20 km in 80 minutes
Run: distance 4.1 km in 21' 34" at 5' 16" per km
Weather: sunny, temp 19 degrees, humidity 30%, wind calm

Only three of us took to the bikes with most of the others that normally would tag along offering plenty of excuses. One is overseas, a couple are on day shifts at work, one has broken parts on the bike, etc, etc. Some just failed to front.
They really missed a near perfect day to be out riding. Ever since this group riding started over a year ago, there has not been a bad Thursday morning weather wise to stop the trip. Even through winter, although cold, was never worse than nice.
Paul, new tour leader, Frazzle and myself left the depot just after 11:00 am, around the outside of Lake Tuggeranong, flat, towards Athllon Dr. Start of a gentle up hill to Sulwood Dr, easy but a couple of kms. Then we turned on to the dirt track behind Mt Taylor on the Torrens side, not the easy, open tracks we use for the monthly handicaps. No, that goat track above the gully, water course where we passed a walker out enjoying the day. I think he was hiding, getting in some secret training for the next monthly handicap, good to see you out there, John B.
Didn't quite come out where we expected above the Chifley water tank, but we went left towards the car park at top of Waldock St and at the base of the walking track to the top of Mt Taylor. New leader, Paul, who got his navigational skills from Capt Cook, said left, left, we go up there. No, no, no, says frazzle, not up, not going up.
Anyway, we made our way over to the Sulwood Dr side of Mt Taylor, picked up the track back the vet's used to run. A bit of walking and pushing the bikes on a steep , but short hill. Great views over the Tuggeranong valley, ruined by a power line cutting across right in front.
Down the steep slope with the smell of burning brakes applied really tight, too much danger. After that, down through Kambah past the old high school to the edge of the lake and back towards work.
Almost home near the dam wall, with frazzle in front in his own little dream world. Warmer days means the local wildlife are awake and looking for food and water. If you see a stick on the bike path, be very careful, it may move. Frazzle doesn't see the stick move, Paul sees the stick move and tries to go around, but the stick turns, not very happy and rears it's head and ready to attack. Ah!!!
Gradually, billy brown snake makes his way back towards the bushes. Paul and I stop to watch as the snake, bit over half a metre long slithers away. Frazzle has gone wondering why we stopped.
That was enough to require lunch as soon as possible. Nerves settled down after lazy day chicken, spuds and coffee. Then still had time to go for a short run down to Pine Is, 10 minutes standing in the cold water, then back to work.
Good day out, just the three of us. Maybe more next week.