A Little Triva

The boulder marking the 45th Parallel is located on the western edge of Minneapolis in a small patch of parkland near the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Wirth Parkway.
The plaque reads:
LATITUDE 45° 00'00" NORTH
LONGITUDE 93° 19'10" WEST
This boulder is located on the forty-fifth parallel of latitude which is midway between the Equator and the North Pole.
Elevation 888 feet above mean sea level.

As it looked today.
Been giving Old Blue a bit of a rest, and riding with Evil on these cold days along the 45th Parallel. Trails are in excellent winter condition and the skinnier tires, with fewer studs, on The Evil One, provide plenty of grip over the few patches of ice and packed snow. Listening to the weather while writing this, the prediction is for more snow and colder temps by Sunday. Oh good.
It's been a little colder than usual for December in Minnesota, but nothing we can't handle, and it has been sunny and gorgeous out with all the fresh snow. 21/13.6

Another beautiful sunset tonight.

Possiblities

Felt good out there this evening. Rode the trails around town on the Evil One. I was out in Delano this morning looking at a property. Decided to drive home along some of my favorite cycling routes. The shoulders were surprisingly clear, and I kept on thinking, I could be out here on a road bike. Maybe....
21/13.9

More Nice

Temp doubled by the time we finished today's ride, well almost doubled. Started at 7 made it to 13 degrees. Windchill was -6 and just eked into positive territory by the time we got home, at 2 degrees.
Very comfortable. We both know how to dress and ride in this kind of weather. Don't get me wrong, I love 70 degrees and sunny, but this fresh snow sure is beautiful. That's one of the nice things about living here in Minnesota, the different seasons. They all have their good, bad, beautiful and ugly, no doubt. Today and yesterday....beautiful.
Old Blue was feeling extra smooooooth today as the old chain got a shot of lube, before the ride. This weather, with the road spray, salt and sand knocks that lube off the old hairy chain real fast.
Been riding Old Blue a lot this winter. He loves exploding through the snow plow drifts left on the trails. The old hairy legs likes the trails plowed, and Old Blue's granny gears.

Great riding with Amy like always. Good weekend of riding, real good. 32/13.3

Nice Winter Ride

What a nice ride! Just a blast playing in the snow. We only had one rule: plowed paths. I was not interested in putting in a MrDavey effort. I'm just not that tough. Ellen, Steve, Aaron, and Amy just frolicin'. 42/ and a blistering 12.9mph pace.

Since 1:30, when I got home, I've had 3 chocolate chip cookies, 1 cup of hot chocolate, with whupped (yes whupped) cream, 1 Punch Pizza, 1 Linnie's Honey Weiss, and I need more. The combination of cold and sloggin' burns those calories fast. Lookin' for more. An update may follow.

Got out with the camera this afternoon and saw some red.

Minnehaha Creek

35W Looking North Into Downtown

Walk In The Snow

Got out for a walk with my camera. Left at about 7, got home at 9:15. I did stop at the bookstore. Need another book, just finished what will probably be my favorite of the year, "Even Silence Has An End".
Very peaceful out. I love how the snow muffles all the sound.

These shots were taken from the same place, all within a minute, just different shutter speeds. The first one is the only one where I used the flash. Yes, it was snowing like crazy the whole time. I think my favorite is the last one. I do like the second one too. This is the canal between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles.

Uh oh. I didn't mention anything about biking in this post. Don't worry, the book I bought? Bicycle Diaries, by David Byrne (yeah, that David Byrne, of Talking Heads). It's about his experiences riding his bike and taking photos....can't imagine I'm going to like that at all.

Hi My Name Is Tom

Woke up feeling feverish and achy. The throat has been raw all week. Did a little work. Temps didn't even get to 20 degrees. It was beautiful out with tons of sun and only a very light breeze.
Yeah, I know. I did it. Runny nose, aches and feelin' tired I went out and rode. 21/14.3
What is wrong with me?

This Morning
When I Walked Out My Door To Go For My Ride

Finishing Up My Ride Around Lake Harriet

Still Cold

But the sun was out, which sort of helped. Evil One. 21/14.6