Just another great morning in the saddle

[the Ferret]

Weather terrorists were predicting rain this afternoon (they were right for a change... it's 12:42 and pouring now) so I decided to get on the road early this morning.Pulled out about 6:45 I think. It was a gorgeous morning, about 72 degrees I would guess, kind of overcast... at least the sun wasn't bright yet, so I threw on my Cabela's windstopper shirt, over a short sleeved C-9 athletic shirt and my Tourmaster mesh jacket. If it got hot I could shed the windstopper and be nice and cool. HJC full face helmet, summer weight Cortech gloves, short top Alpinestar boots and jeans completed the wardrobe.

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About an hour into the ride I rolled thru a little town called Williamsburg, and rode past a donuts shop called Holtman's. Been past it many times. Always admired the mural painted on the side of the building, but had never stopped in. About 1/2 block down the road I got a hankering for a Chocolate topped Eclair with real custard filling so I pulled a legal U turn in a parking lot and drove back to the shop.

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Since my wife had slept in this morning while I was out riding, I picked up 2 of the eclairs and would take them back to share with my bride.

A nice curvy north-south road with some small elevation changes runs between Williamsburg and the town of Bethel, the next town east of my house, so that's the route I took. It's actually an old Indian/buffalo route the gov't turned into a state route many years ago (St Rt 133) and it runs all the way to the Ohio river, where there was a camp along a small creek that emptied into the Ohio River where buffalo hides were processed. The area is called Bull Skin Creek.

Anyhow once I reached Bethel, I turned west on St Rt 125 (another great road that runs E-W from Cincinnati to the Ohio River near Portsmouth Ohio) then hit some back roads toward home. Flying along I spotted a big ol turtle on the side of the road, so I swung around for a better look

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Yiiii, a big ol snapper

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It may be turtle saving season, but this bigger than a dinner plate dude was on his own getting across the highway. These turtle have sharp beaks and incredibly strong bites, and I've heard once they clamp down they are not letting go (even if you cut their head off).

Got home, made a couple cups of hot tea, and my wife I and enjoyed breakfast on the screened deck out back watching the Phoebes, Goldfinches, Titmice, Chickadees, Cardinals, House Finches, Nuthatches, Hummingbirds etc visiting her feeders. Life is good today.

Anyhow a really nice ride, the 88th day in a row, and 147th day I've ridden this year totaling 12,404 miles. With a goal of 20K + miles and riding 340 days, things are looking pretty good.