Today I woke up and the sun was shining. When I stepped onto my deck outside, it felt like Spring. After temperatures in the low teens for the past week, 30 degrees felt fabulous! I checked the weather report, and high 30’s were predicted for the day. I was so happy that I could go for a ride without my ski helmet and goggles!
Normally I ride either directly south or east of my house. I hate traffic and going into town, so I seldom go north or west. Today I decided not to head south into the open fields and blasting wind. I was in need of an adventure. So I headed northwest.
The main road that I turn onto after my subdivision was completely clear. I could have ridden my skinny tire bike, I thought briefly. Then I turned onto Lockerbie Drive in the Aberdeen subdivision. The road was completely covered in snow, and parts of it were pretty slick and slow going.
I turned north on 600 West, and decided to follow it across Highway 30. That is something I never do. I had never taken the bike that far north on that road, and it had been probably 10 years since I had driven that way in my car. The road was very slushy with melted snow and I was sprayed from head to toe by passing cars as I flew downhill to the highway.
After I crossed the highway, I knew if I kept going I would find myself in Wheeler. After two curves in the road, I rode straight over to County Line Road. The road was very slushy and slick, and luckily there were no cars on the road. I then turned onto County Line Road, and then turned right to go to Deep River County Park.
When the kids were little, the old mill in Deep River was a working mill, and you could buy freshly ground cornmeal there. The mill has long since stopped working, and it is now a museum with old quilts, pictures, and other items inside. There is also an old church that serves as a gift shop. Both buildings were closed for the winter. The park also has a gazebo, which is a popular site for weddings.
The park has a nice walking and horse trail, however, the trail was so packed with snow it was impassable. I rode on the shoveled walkways and took pictures, while memories flowed. I took a picture of the old wagon, which was always a photo stop when the kids were little. I have lots of pictures with the kids at varying ages, posing against that wagon.
I rode around the park and took more photos, then headed home. It had been a long time since I’d driven a car out that way, and I really wasn’t sure which way to go home. I headed east and then took 750 W, which to my surprise, crossed back over Highway 30. I made a promise to myself to find new adventures on roads I don’t normally ride more often.
