The Dirt Diva, her Dynamo, and her trusty Steed: blue and green trails

My friend, Elise, put together some ladies for an all ladies beginner ride and we met at Poco yesterday for a spin!

Here we are minus 1 lady!

Mariooooochhheee and Dynamo joined us!

We met up and started out riding the fireroad. We cut in on the blue trail!

After a quick whirl through there, everyone was doing so well we decided to tackle the green trail!

Everyone was having a great time! There were smiles!

My friend, Missy, was there to help with instruction.

All was fine and good until I almost rode over a black snake!

It was cold enough that I thought we wouldn't have to worry, but I was wrong!

He was so stunned as was I that neither of us knew what to do! His head was right next to my foot as I slowly rode by. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him!

So, the only thing to do after taking pics was to encourage him away from the trail. I tried to do this with a stick.

He was only interested in going his way. Not mine!

Elise did a good job of snapping pics huh? At least he was easily visible in the brown leaves and rather slow because of the cold weather!

We continued on and finished up our ride with smiling faces!

We really had a wonderful time and enjoyed the company. I hope all the ladies will come back again.

If there's anyone that wants to join in, come on! The more the merrier! I make no promises, but we will have a great time and get some exercise!

I'd like to thank everyone for their patience and great attitudes! It was great fun!

Last Thursday we met up with MBM for an after work ride! It had been a while since we got together and rode!

We hit the good 'ole Lakeview Trails!

We moved along at a decent pace...

But...we had to "dismount" and go over some down trees!

Dynamo did a great job of capturing action shots huh?

We always ride in this order...Me, MBM, and then Dynamo!

We stopped at a log pile in the trail and discussed whether or not we would try it!

MBM and Dynamo spotted me as I went over. Very smoothly might I add! I was really proud of myself. I'd been too scared to try it, but MBM and I were coached by Dynamo and made it over just fine! I am looking forward to trying it again. Practice makes perfect!

Then, we moved on and everytime I see this "skinny" I want to try it, but I'm not brave enough yet!

It was really a nice night to ride!

We got to catch up with MBM and just have a nice ride like old times!

Lately, our schedules haven't meshed so that we could all ride together, but it just worked out this day!

This log pile is on LV 3 and makes me really nervous. I think it's because of the slanted nature of the log. I've not gotten up nerve to try this one, but maybe sometime!

MBM's girls, our adopted nieces, have such busy schedules that they are always going here or there! And, with Charlie, we've been staying home and playing in the evenings or riding with him at the Battlefield! Kids sure do keep you busy!

In one spot on the trail there was a tree across the path. It appeared to have been hit by lightening!

The pace was so nice and steady that I felt very comfortable and strong.

It was a nice day. Good temperature for a ride!

Hopefully we can get more days like that this summer!

The trails were in great shape other than a few trees here and there!

The streams were very low.

Good ride and good company!

And...on Sunday, Dynamo and I got up and hit the park in the morning hours hoping to beat the heat..

We headed over to Forest Exploration, which I forgot had some big climbs in the beginning.

I was panting pretty hard and we weren't even a mile from the car!

But, usually it takes a little while for my legs to warm up...

I wasn't really fast, but I rode, which is all that mattered!

I was drenched with sweat from the minute we started. It was pretty steamy!

The Park has installed new trail markers throughout and they are really nice!

There is a short section on Forest Exploration that is my 2nd favorite part of the whole park!

It's about 1.5 miles long and a fast downhill! I LOVE to go fast!! And, when we exited that section there was a cool funny tree we had never noticed before...