Sunday Morning Ravine Loop

[emptysea]

Hot, humid and hazy this morning. Hotter, more humid, and a strong chance of strong storms this afternoon. The commitment to myself to run 3 miles today. The temptation, always present, to ride my motorcycle whenever weather permits. If I went for my run at 7:00, it would still be relatively cool, but I would be too sweaty and probably too tired to ride. If I rode first, it would be considerably hotter for my run and that might tempt me to skip it all together. Choices. Priorities. No one home to tell me what I should do.

I would ride. Geared up and out the door by 7:00.

My favorite Sunday morning run takes me east to Lake Michigan then north on Sheridan Road through the affluent suburbs of Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, and Glencoe. When I have more time, I continue all the way to Lake Bluff. But I didn't have time this morning. It's a beautiful ride with reflections off the lake peeking out across the road between the lakefront mansions. Essentially a residential street, Sheridan is none the less a great road for motorcycling.

Stopped twice at beaches in Winnetka to soak up the beauty of the morning.







There is a section of Sheridan Road referred to as "The Ravines" which is a relatively winding stretch that starts just north of Tower Rd in Winnetka and continues northward , I guess, into Lake Bluff. To me, though, "The Ravines" is the 1/2 mile or so of very twisted pavement immediately north of Tower. When I was a kid, we would race our bicycles down the big hill and sharp curves faster than any of us had ridden them before or possibly since. Bicycles are, wisely, prohibited from this section now. I feel that it is my obligation, though, to try to recreate our childhood exhilaration of running The Ravines on two wheels as quickly as possible. The pavement is in terrible condition which kept my speed in check, but I still made 6 passes through it before making my westbound turn onto Tower Rd.



Tower west to Forestway Drive which would take me south toward home with big, sweeping turns, a higher speed limit, and the Skokie Lagoon to my right. The lagoon attracts kayaks and canoes on the weekends, but it was too early for anyone except a few fisherman and a small flock of geese.







Decided to stop for a cup of tea...OK not really...for a cup of coffee. Any concern I may have had about leaving my beautiful CB unattended faded away knowing I had these "guard dogs" keeping watch from either side. Enjoyed my coffee and a cranberry orange scone and was back home by a later-than-expected 10:00.





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Oh, and I got my 3 mile run in, too.

[Cormanus]

Great post and lovely photos EmptySea. I might not have got home till very late o9n such a lovely day.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Beaut pictures. Good to have a ride like that on the doorstep.

Cheers

[Rocky_imp]

Great pics