ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

  Typically, the most picturesque time in my neck of the woods tends to be around the end of October and the beginning of November.  It was just about that time that Matt joined me for one of my post-surgery walks over in Michaux State Forest.  At that time, I still couldn’t do any trail hikes…so we walked around Laurel Lake and followed the access road up to Fuller Lake.  The pictures that I took that day are some of the best I’ve taken in a while.  Matt joined me for a five mile walk in Michaux State Forest.  The pictures that I took on this day were some of my favorite of the year.  -- October 26, 2022 The view from the boat dock at Laurel Lake.  -- October 26, 2022 Making our way around Laurel Lake, I snapped this picture of the Fall foliage reflecting in the still water.  -- October 26, 2022 Another amazing picture of the foliage reflecting in the water of Fuller Lake in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  -- October 26, 2022 A cabin hi...

There wasn't anything normal about 2018. It's been a year of extreme humidity, single digit temperatures, and more rainy days than I can remember in my lifetime.  Even on the "dry" days riding conditions were challenging,  at best.   Mud and water and more mud seemed to be the recurring theme of the the past year.  With the exception of a ride I took in Mesa, Arizona, I don't recall a single time this year when the trails were dry and dusty.   Regardless, the conditions didn't stop me (or my riding partners) opting outside to turn some pedals.  As a matter of fact, I rode (and cleaned my drive train) quite regularly and quite often. My Stumpjumper nestled in low hanging clouds and resting on the sign in Michaux State Forest marking the border of Cumberland and Adams Counties. -- July 31, 2018 Throughout the course of 2018, I rode my mountain bike in, at least, sixteen different places...making my normal trips to places like Mich...