Another beautiful morning…
with wisps of beautiful pastels dancing across the morning sky.
And another beautiful ride to celebrate the day.

This morning it was a horizontal battle of clouds versus sun.
The sun was trying to come up, but the clouds were quickly encroaching
and covering the horizon. Nonetheless, the “sun-less sun-rise” was still quite beautiful.
And if the WARM spring weather never gets here, I’ll keep wearing layers like this morning!

Crisp & clear… and very windy.
Deceptively clear. Why is wind so difficult to photograph?!

It was great fun going south towards downtown.
But then at some point you have to turn around and come back…
smack dab into the wind!!! As you watch your speed drop instantly from 22 to 12 mph!!!
But once I got past the stretch of beach where there’s no “wind block” from North Avenue
up to Belmont my speed gradually got back to normal. And my breathing… whew…

With another storm front rolling through Chicago overnight…
it was still a little windy & blustery this morning with winds coming in from the West.
which also means that it “felt” like a headwind both coming AND going!!

After a long recovery, it felt like it was time to get back on the bike.
I’ve been dealing with foot pain for nearly two months from a bout of
plantar fasciitis, and possibly a “self-diagnosed” stress fracture, in my left foot.
Over-use. Over-exertion. Over. Over. Over… and that’s me. So it’s no surprise, really!

So I’ve been very careful with, and stayed off it as much as possible, and now
I feel like I might be ready to let “Spring Training” begin! Especially with my annual
goal of riding every month year-round – I had to squeeze it in today, the last day of March!
And this morning’s sunrise was a great kick-of treat!

It’s been far too long. And it felt great to be back in the saddle again.
Still cold. And a little tougher than I remember… but that’s to be expected.
Everything felt good as I was pedaling so I’m cautiously encouraged.
And hoping that everything feels good even later this afternoon & evening?!

With the prediction of a huge snowstorm headed our way…
and the lakefront bike route basically clear this morning…
I decided to head out for another morning sunrise ride… not knowing
when I might get another chance if we get the snow they’re calling for?!

So the sunrise was beautiful – even with the distraction of the loudness!
Yes… it was LOUD!!! With the waves crashing in on the newly frozen lakefront
about a hundred feet into the lake… as well as the wind whipping in from the lake
and blowing through the bare tree limbs. It was incredibly loud.

It was cold. It was windy. It was loud.
And still stunning… both temperature and natural beauty!

Yesterday was my first morning bike ride of the New Year.
Sadly, the sunrise was pretty anti-climactic… gray & dreary!
Just another “Hazy Shade of Winter”… cue music… you choose…
“The Bangles” or “Simon & Garfunkel”?

But today was another story… and a better sunrise!
It was also a lot colder this morning. But when I got up early, stepped out onto my back porch
to check the weather, I could see that there was something beautiful brewing over the lake.
So I threw on the layers again and went out to brave the elements. And pedaled off…

It was beautiful, and a great “2nd” kick-off to my morning rides… even if it was a day late?!
And pay no attention to that chunk of cloudy “ugliness” moving off to the north!

So the cool clouds were moving off, but the temperature was still in the mid-teens!
And for the first time I found myself riding with frozen ice crystals on my eyelashes actually
scraping against the insides of my glasses every time I blinked. Seriously! It was that cold.
Even with a double-layer of gloves, my fingers were freezing too! But still worth it…
to start the morning off with a bit of exercise, a lot of fun and an incredible sunrise like this!

Winter is here… but with enough layers, I’m still pedaling!

With a wide ribbon of clouds on the horizon, the sunrise was delayed for quite awhile.
It sun finally made its way over the clouds with a shimmering glow.

This morning was cold & gloomy.
Dark. Cloudy. Crisp. Gusty. With snowflakes in the air.
With a quick mental note to self… this shiny wet puddles on the path are now
frozen & slippery! Which just adds a new layer of “excitement” to the morning rides
now that I have “obstacles” to dodge!… in the dark!

On a good note… today is December!
And than means that I officially pedaled every month this year!
Although I am sadly running a bit short of my year’s mileage goal.
With the cold weather shift, and the year coming quickly to and end,
it looks like I may be about 200 miles short of my 4,000 mile goal!