February has not been so hot for riding bikes. We had a massive ice storm followed by the slop that you expect afterward. Last Friday I was supposed to go pick up an elementary school application from a school over by U of L (by bike of course) but instead I followed on a lunch date I made previously for the Hooter’s on the river. I ride past this establishment all of the time so I traveled by bike and met my friends there. There were no signs of any recession at the Hooter’s on that day. The place was absolutely packed. Service was nice but real slow and I had to haul it back to work. As you might expect a full stomach of wings and fries does not make for the most comfortable ride. Oh well – I knew what I was getting into.

By Monday all the roads had cleared up and I thought I would ride out to Edwardsville and do a little hill climbing. I snapped this picture on the way up:

Until I stopped and looked I always thought this sign indicated population. I was surprised to find that it actually indicates date of incorporation.

On the way out I heard a train coming at a good spot to take a picture and stopped to take a few…

It turned out to be an engine only.

A little further up the hill I noticed something else I had never really looked at. On one of the last turns and climbs before you reach the top there is a striking gorge that has train tracks surfacing at the bottom. This picture is overlooking that spot.

It felt to be getting back kin the swing of things after a slow January.

I took a normalish start and headed toward Silver Hills still with intentions just to head out Corydon Pike and turn around at the first set of RR tracks. But, the wind was light and I just felt drawn to the hill. I had taken packing tape and wrapped it around my crappy shoes to try and suppress some of the cold but it didn’t really work. I really need to get proper shoes and covers. I made it up the hill and turned back towards New Albany. I wanted to get a picture of this view:

It looked like a Tolkien Scene from a Led Zeppelin song.

I also took a chance to take this picture:

I think it looks funny because the balaclava makes it look like I have a mustache and not a beard.

It was really cold as I descended and my feet were nearly hurting. But I made it back and warmed right up. I was really happy to get out on a day I thought would be a wash. We have poor weather forecasted for the next few days so this may have been my best chance in the early week.