Fall Trail Ride

Since we've been having some warmer weather, we decided to put aside all our other projects and go for a trail ride on Friday (I also wanted to try out the new tires I got for my Surly 1x1). 

Heading out Spadina to the new south bridge - our new way to access the G Trails.



Just checking blood sugar levels... because that's what we do now.



We ended up mostly riding on the newer crusher rock dust/gravel trails as the G-trails proved a bit muddy.



The kids checking out the "super stunt" built by Gerald and his pals. I don't think any of us are feeling skilled (or brave) enough to hit this anytime soon.

You can see a picture of Gerlad riding it in the Sunny Summer Sunday Afternoon Ride post)



Crossing the access road that divides G1 and G2.



We rode a bit of the single track here as I'd hoped it was a bit drier - being somewhat moer exposed to the sun. Some of it was. other areas with less sunlight... not so much...



The girl pushing up the bank to the trail.



Actually she pushed a lot of the trail.



Luckily the Boy would stop and wait for us... from time to time.



The Girl pushing some more.



At least she got on her bike to ride some of the flat parts.



Where G2 regained the gravel trail we noticed an Ambulance and a couple of police cars and a Saskatoon Light and Power truck at the access road - on closer observation I noticed an ambulance attendant vigorously performing CPR on a man lying by the side of a trail near a bike. Got me thinking I should sign myself and the boy up for a first aid course. I can't remember the last time I took one - probably 15+ years ago!!

We carried on along the gravel trail (away from the scene) and almost all the way out to Chief Whitecap park. On our way back we noticed the vehicles were all there - as we got closer we noticed the ambulance pulling away but the police cars were still there. As we got even closer we noticed the body was still there - though it was now covered by a tarp.

We rode the section of G2 we had ridden to come out this way - despite it being muddy and The Girl not liking riding it - just to avoid having to ride past the police and the body they were watching over.

 

The Girl managed to ride a bit more of it going back. Buoyed by this success, she actually rode down that rather steep access trail - which was really pushing her limits! I was so excited I totally forgot to get out my camera and take a picture!



Stoping for more snacks and a quick check of blood sugar levels.



The Girl decided this would make a great summoning circle - though wasn't entirely sure WHAT she could summon from it (regardless, I'm sure it would be something more furry and cute and less fiery and demonic!)



Instead of crossing at the South Bridge, we decided to ride through Gabriel Dumont Park - for a more "scenic" route home.



The Girl, suddenly excited about the possibilities of mountain biking on single track, veered off on every little bit of single track short cut between loopy trail bits.



She even did this little drop through a gully - which she'd been far to terrified to do before. it's not terribly hard, but it started off with bit of an off camber, slippery muddy bit - which ifbraked too hard on would result in sliding sideways into the bush. Then there is a bit of a drop into a gully - which you have to do quickly to get enough speed to ride up the other side. Unfortunately it was getting dark enough in the gully - in the late afternoon - and she was going fast enough that the pics ended up a bit blurry.



The Boy doing the same.



The Surly 1x1 with the new Kenda Mini Block Eight tires I picked up at the Bike Universe Customer Appreciation Sale.

it was so warm The Boy and I planned to go riding on Saturday as well - while Amanda took The Girl to all her dance classes... but it just didn't work out... Today would have been even better (it was +20°C!!) but again other scheduled activities ate up the day. Tomorrow is relatively open - as is most of the week - due to most of our activities being cancelled this week (there's some break at the university where most of our extra curricular activities take place, and then there's the Remembrance Day long weekend). So hopefully we'll get out for some more fun riding this week!!