Hit the trails!

I could not resist heading out this past weekend with the crazy warm weather going on.  It got up to 70 degrees (F) here, which is kind of bonkers when you think about it, but it certainly makes for a pleasant evening of bike riding.  

Since I didn't have any plans for New Year's Eve, I decided to head out at night on the White Oak Bayou Trail and made Senate Avenue Brewing my destination -- mainly because it's at the end of the trail on the far northwest side of the city.  Unfortunately, many parts of the trail's sections are torn up from construction, which turned parts of my casual ride into a full bore mud slosh.  

Thick mud had clumped over my brakes and into the fork and frame. I had to stop several times and use my knife to get the mud out.  When I started off again, I would eventually hit ANOTHER large area of mud and standing water.  Pedaling with your tyres all clogged up is not easy, but it was kind of fun battling the mud.

Oh yeah, about Senate Avenue Brewing: highly recommend their brews.  I tried their holiday ale called Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie (of which I agree) and it was quite delicious!  Dark and roasty with subtle hints of orange peel and... cardamon?  Wonderfully brewed and not too sweet. 

Got back to my place around 11pm and just chilled for the New Year while fireworks and guns fired into the night at midnight.

Was a bit sore on January 1 from the mud struggles, but it was also criminally beautiful outside... so  I took my bike to a local car wash and sprayed off most the mud that was still caked on and then casually rode another 20 miles along Buffalo Bayou Bike Trail. 

Oh yeah... I log all of my hikes and rides on Strava, if you're into that sort of thing. 

TLDR: It was warm and I went on a bike ride.