An Autumn ride

October, 2006
Perfect blue sky - not a cloud in the sky, comfortable 60 degrees temperature, leaves turning colors all around us. We indeed picked a great day for our final bike ride of the season! This time, we decided to go for a comfortable and easy 15 miles on the Nashua railroad trail. The trail starts at Ayer Center, typical North-Eastern quaint town center and goes for about 11 miles till Pepperel Center. Our son had his new road bicycle called Denali, which was great, because in the past his cool looking hybrid bike with its thick tires had slowed him down.
With almost no traction in our pencil thin road bicycle tires, we were glad it wasn't wet, otherwise, the sodden leaves on the trail would have created a slick surface for us to glide on rather than ride on.

We started off at an easy pace, cold though gentle wind blowing against us (good thing we all had our thinsulate gloves on). Just as we passed the wide clearing that off terrain vehicles use, we picked up speed and set the pace for the rest of the ride. We cruised along, passing a beautiful pond with its Lily pads almost dead in the cold, past the vast apple orchards and a pumpkin patch. We took turns riding the lead, allowing each other to take a wind-break. Leaves gently fell all around us. Maples - beautiful shades of reds, vivid oranges, and fiery yellows; Oaks - darker shades of red, brown and dark gray. We turned a bend and the most awesome sight waited us - a tunnel of maples in their most majestic colors. Leaves gently floated down, creating a light shower of yellows and reds. We asked our son to ride ahead, stop when directed, turn around and smile - which he dutifully did and was promptly captured in our digital Canon.

At the 7 and a 1/2 mile marker, we did an about turn and started our ride back. The wind picked up against us. Lungs straining, hearts pumping, and quads burning, we maintained the pace and were back in the parking lot about an hour and a half after we started.