Heading towards the end of November, Goodbye Indian Summer!

 We are now heading into WINTER here in Southern Colorado. Here is the rest of the month of November as the fridged COLD has finally shown up in our area, it's 15 F degrees outside with a very lite snow flurries at times today!

November 19- Many Bridges ride on Cottonwood Creek Trail- Headed out on the PP Greenway to ride the Cottonwood Creek Trail to the Park and a bit beyond. It was a very nice, sunny day and the CCT is a favorite. We just enjoyed all the bridge crossings of the creek on the way up and then thru the big tunnel and headed northeast to a turnaround point. Didn't go all the way to the end of the concrete at just north of Powers Blvd. It was a good day to RIDE!

November 22- A late Fall Day, different sections of different trails- We just took off and headed here and there using different sections of different trails to enjoy another beautiful day in Southern Colorado in the warm late fall weather!  

We headed up the Austin Bluffs Trail to its end and then took a little used sidewalk up to the old Austin Bluffs Mall to go to Scooter's Coffee but it has been closed down so we headed back down to the trail and then headed south to let Jo ride the new concrete section of the Sinton Trail before we headed home, another excellent day to Ride!

November 24- Rode several different Bike Lanes to get to Panera Bread in Southgate- It was a Monday, and the Sacred Grounds Cafe was closed so we headed to Panera Bread on a bit of a chilly day to eat our brown bag lunch and get a HOT tea!  We did a bit of a photo op at the Creek Walk area. Headed back the same way but picked up the Pikes Peak Greenway and then to the Mesa Greenway, rode to its end point and home.

November 28- CHILLY Moring Ride on the Rock Island Trail and Academy Blvd Path- Had to bundle up a bit as the day started out Gray and Cloudy but the temp wasn't too cold so we decided to ride. Been a little while since we rode the Rock Island Trail all the way to its end at Powers Blvd. heading east. We rode to the end, then turned around to head to the Mavrick Station for again, HOT tea. As we were flying down one of the big downhill sections of the trail, the hard mount for my GoPro 6, SNAPPED and the camera went tumbling!!!! Jo found the camera, it's amazing it still works and only got a mar or two!! Tough little camera! 

We packed it away and again headed over to the Mavrick Station, that HOT tea really hit the spot! From there back to the Rock Island heading west and to the apartment to tuck in the trikes as Saturday's temps are 32F for a HIGH and windy and Sunday is even COLDER so this is all the rides for November! It gets a bit iffy, weather wise for the next 3 months here in Southern CO., so it will be hit and miss as far as the blog and videos for a bit. Happy Holidays to all of you and yours! Happy Trail's! 

More November Rides

 Another busy month but there have been so many nice days that we got more rides in anyway!

November 12- With lot's of appointments, etc. Finally got in a ride and the day was Awesome! 

November 13- Couldn't find the Phase 4, new section of the Creek Walk Trail in Manitou Springs? - We saw a Facebook post from the PAC-Man Group in Manitou Springs that they have finished the newest section of the Creek Walk Trail. We headed out over to America the Beautiful Park and the Midland Trail to Manitou Springs. It was supposed to hook into the Mayfair Ave., Phase 3 section but we followed a dirt path we thought might be it but it wasn't so we headed back the way we came into the Springs! They are suppose to have a "official" ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday November 18th but we have appointments that day, RATS. Oh well, it was another great day for ride so we will try again soon!

November 14- I took a different route and headed back to find the new phase 4 section of the Creek Walk Trail in Manitou Springs! - Well jo had a doctor's appointment, so I decided to go back and FIND the new Phase 4 trail section!!  Wala, I found it, no markings at all and instead of running along Fountain Creek like the rest of the Creek Walk Trail, it runs along Manitou Ave. heading towards the Manitou Springs Visitor Center and then to downtown.

It's better than having to use to streets but kinda a bummer, it's not continuing to follow the creek, RATS. It will take you over to Memorial Park and 7 Minute Springs Park, via back street and then to the Visitor's Center. Ok, well mystery solved but hopefully a future, Phase 5 will take it all the way into downtown Manitou Springs! Enjoyed the longer route ride via Sinton and Foothills trails, another nice day to RIDE

November 16- World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims at City Hall in Downtown Colorado Springs, CO.- We decided to ride down and support the local World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims. Headed down the Weber St. bike lane into the City Hall and did a video of the Ceremony. Then we headed out to lunch at the downtown Starbucks and then rode to Monument Valley Park, Pikes Peak Greenway and picked up the Rock Island Trail up to hook up with the Academy Blvd Access Path to a Mavrick Station Store for iced tea and a Think Bar afternoon break. The sun heads down a lot faster now so we headed back to the apartment and tucked in the trikes!

   

Monday the 17th. - It's REALLY WINDY today, sunshine but lot's of clouds and heavy wind gust's so we decided not to ride, hopefully we can ride Weds. as Thurs. and Fri. look like RAIN, bummer. Oh well, it's been a good fall riding season so hopefully we can get in a few more rides before the snow falls!! HAPPY TRAIL'S!

Ending October and into November!

October 30, 2025- For many years, there were two small natural duck ponds in Monument Valley Park. About 3 years ago, they were drying up and in really bad shape! 2 years ago, they started a rebuild by digging out the land in-between ponds. Starting the new Duck Lake, dug out, added a protective layer and short rock wall around the new lake. The westside of the Pikes Peak Greenway goes right by the Lake and they smoothed out the old rough dirt trail with a new layer of concrete. 

Going by on the trail, we watched the construction, and it took 2 years, but it's now finished and I rode the trike to the Dedication Ceremony at the lake!  Shot a video and took photos of the ceremony. Then headed out for a ride, it's great to see the city work on the parks and they even put in a walkway around the whole lake!

November 1, 2025- Another round at the Sacred Ground, "CAFE". Again, headed out mostly on area bike lanes, including, Weber St, Tejon St and Cheyenne Blvd bike lanes. Although the Tejon St. bike lane is still a challenge, the newly paved and painted Cheyenne Blvd bike lane is actually fun to ride now! We decide not to ride up to the Starsmoor Center at the foot of North Cheyenne Canyon Park. Arrived at the Sacred Grounds Cafe and it wasn't as busy as usual, so we got great parking! Ordered iced tea and ate our brown bag lunch on the patio area. From there we headed back on the Cheyenne Blvd and other bike lanes. It turned out to be a really nice day and so far, except for a couple of "cold fronts" here and there it's been sunny and warm, SWEET!

November 3, 2025- Food Run & Lunch Ride- It's that time again, we needed FOOD! Hooked up the cargo trailer and headed via the Rock Island Trail to the Walmart Market Store at Union Blvd. We headed out to lunch after packing away to food and supplies, then rode misc. trails, etc. to finish off the ride for the day!

November 6, 2025- Rode to Angletech to sign up for their T-shirt order and I checked out some new recumbent accessories, sadly Jo had an eye doctor appointment, so I was SOLO! There was a new handlebar bag, actually made for recumbents to attach to the sidebar that had the latch close to the rider and a hard plastic bottom. Next, new hi-tech water bottles in stainless steel and don't need to be squeezed as they have "gravity flow"! After that headed to a Mavrick Station Store for, what else, Iced tea and the infamous brown bag special!

Back down Sinton Trai, sadly, it's blocked off again for more finishing work so had to use the Elliston Street Detour route, rats. Headed north on the PP Greenway up to Panera Bread, I caved in and got a Hot Tea and a Cinnamon Raisin Bagel for late afternoon snack, YUM! Back on the PP Greenway and headed to the barn, ok, apartment, the winds had gotten really STRONG, lots of dust and crunched leaves blowing around made it a good time to end the ride!

Ok, folks, that's all for now, hope your fall is being kind to your riding, we all know the snow will fly soon but the longer the warmish fall stays the better we like it. Tell we come together again, HAPPY TRAI'S! 

More October!

 October 25- Hauling Bunn's, to catch up with Jo!- Jo headed out on a ride early, I was stuck at the apartment, waiting on a FedX package with a new higher speed capable Modem from Xfinity. It arrived about 11:30, so I put on all the trike gear, loaded up the trike and headed out to catch up to Jo. She had headed up the Cottonwood Creek Trail and just finished lunch at the "Creekside Cafe". I told her I was on the way, but she decided to head down towards me, we met on the PP Greenway, decided to reverse, we rode the Vincent St. Bridge Loop and headed to Panera Bread so I could have lunch and we shared a large iced tea!

From there we headed south on the PP Greenway over towards Monument Valley Park and the Ped bridge/walkway.

Over the Ped Bridge on to the Mesa Greenway, which we rode till it's ending point at America Furniture Warehouse, turned around, picked up the Fontanero St. bike lane back to the PP Greenway, over the Popcycle Bridge and then back to the apartment.

We've got doctors appointments and other social things going on over the next few days so no new rides, rats! I'll get back to ya when we get to RIDE! Happy Trail's! 

More October ride postings!

 LOL, I just can't stay up with blog post these days, sorry folks! So let's continue with the October rides!

October 17- Another great ride of the Cottonwood Creek Trail. We headed out on a really nice fall day to ride the Cottonwood Creek Trail up past Cottonwood Creek Park to Austin Bluffs and turn around. Sunny, warm and just a nice day to do the ride, the trees are starting to lose leaves but there was still some color here and there. We stopped at the Creekside Cafe on the way up for iced tea and our brown bag lunch. Headed up to the park and thru the tunnel up to the turn off for Austin Bluffs Road. Headed back the same way and back to the PP Greenway and home.

October 19- We almost ran into a "BLACK BEAR" on the Mesa Greenway!- Headed over to the PP Greenway on the westside of Monument Creek and ran into a huge number of RUNNERS! We took it slow and turned off on Fontanero St. bike lane to pick up the Mesa Greenway heading to the westside of Colorado Springs. As we cruised on the trail, I was looking ahead and saw a BIG BLACK BEAR heading towards on the trail!! We quickly turned around and headed off the trail to some side streets to get away from the BEAR! 

Took the Walnut St. bike lane to Cuchara's Trail to get on the Midland Trail and head to Manitou Springs and the Creekwalk Trail. From there it was a mellow ride but chilly, as one huge cloud blocked out the sunshine! Stopped at the Starbucks at Colorado Ave and 31st. Street for a HOT tea and brown bag lunch on the way towards Manitou Springs. Rode to the end of the Creekwalk Trail and turned around, headed home via the Pikes Peak Ave and Weber St. bike lanes

October 21- Food Run and Lunch Ride- Headed out the Rock Island Trail over to Union Blvd to the Walmart Market Place Store for food and supplies. Packed up all the items into the trailer and panniers on the trikes and headed back the same way. Took off to hook up with the Sinton Trail over to Centennial Blvd & Garden of the Gods Rd. Stopped at the Mavrick Station Store for iced tea, met up with Reggie, a fellow Vet and Trike rider, he stopped into the store for lunch during work and we had a great chat about trikes, hope to get a ride in with him in the future! We headed back to same way and headed back to the apartment and tucked away the trikes!

 October 22- Feeling Groovy and checking out the Palmer Park Overlook- Well Jo had a Heart doctor appointment, so I headed out the PP Greenway and picked up the T-Gap Trail. Decided to head to the Palmer Park Overlook at Palmer Park. There's no real trail to the park so I rode back streets, bike lanes, etc. over to pick up the backside entryway into Palmer Park. It's UPHILL, had to use level 2 and sometimes 3 on the E-assist for easier pedaling!!

Headed off on the spur road to the Overlook., BTW, the road is narrow and no bike lane so you have to Share the Road with cars, luckily, it was a weekday, so much lighter traffic. The Overlook use to let cars all the way up but now it comes to a parking lot and you have a walkway you can walk or ride a bicycle into, much nicer!! The view is awesome on a clear day so had to shoot a bit of video and take a photo or two. Heading down to the otherside of the park is a super-fast downhill road, with very tight sweeping corners, WEEEEE! 

Headed over to the Mazeland Rd. and Academy Blvd. Mavrick Station Store for, iced tea and munched on the usual brown bag lunch. On the way back headed south on the Academy Blvd. Path and got on the Rock Island Trail heading west. Picked up the PP Greenway, westside going south to Monument Valley Park, then over the Ped Bridge across I-25 and got on the Mesa Greenway, took it to it's current ending point, then turned around and headed for the apartment!

Well, that's it for now, thanks for checking out the BLOG! I still like putting the words and photos on a blog, even over doing it as a YouTube Channel, hope you think it's worth taking the time to read and enjoy, it's appreciated, BJ. :)

October continued

 Still having some problems adjusting to my new Lenovo Laptop Computer, it's just so different than my old laptop!! Trying to clear out some older videos from the folder, I again, erased a video so there's no way I can post it, I have managed not to mess up the last ride video!

October 12- Just out and about on a beautiful day, RIDE! Headed out to pick up the T-Gap Trail, up through Portal Park, through the trail underpass at Union Blvd up to the current end of the T-Gap at Ranch Drive, then back on the trail to the access bridge over the canal to the Flintridge Road bike lane up to Academy Blvd Mc Donald's for our brown bag lunch and iced tea on a totally sunny fall day! 

Back on the bike lane to T-Gap to pick up T-Gap bike lane to get on the Rock Island Trail and head for the South Homestead Trail. 

While on the Homestead Trail South, going over a bridge I got a sliver of wood in the sidewall of my front tire! Stopped to pull it out and change out the tube but, got lucky and the tube didn't get punctured, YA!! Decided to head back to the RI Trail, picked up the Academy Blvd Access Path to the Mavrick Station/Store for a late afternoon iced tea and Think Bar snack. From there, headed back on the RI Trail to the apartment to call it a wrap for the days ride.

No riding on the 13-16th as I have doctor's appointments every day, it's our PACE 6 months assessment review period so no riding for a bit, RATS! HAPPY TRAIL'S!

September into October

 September 24- Sinton Trail, Pond and Angletech ride. Service appointment at Angletech so we took Sinton Trail up, stopping at Sinton Pond. 

It was cloudy and we kinda cut the ride short as the threat of rain and high winds were on the way!

September 25, 2025-Sand Creek Trail and getting dirty on the Pikes Peak Greenway. We decided to ride the Sand Creek trail, it's a route of trails, streets, bike lanes to end up on the Pikes Peak Greenway, well the DIRT parts heading back west into the city. Over the low bridge and into town, headed to America the Beautiful Park back on the concrete parts of the Pikes Peak Greenway, stopping at Monument Valley Park for a pit stop. Continue on the Greenway home.

September 27, 2025- Cottonwood Creek Trail, all the way to the current ending point. A really nice day so we decided to ride the CCT to its current end at Woodman and Powers Blvd. 

We don't normally ride all the way to the end point, but the temps were mellow and as the 2nd. half is really open and can be really HOT on a hi-temp day! The concrete just ends, dirt 2-track then single track so we always turn around at the end of the concrete. Headed back the same way.

October 1, 2025- Found a way around the Construction Detour on upper Sinton Trail to ride the Foothills Trail. Last time we headed up Sinton Trail we couldn't get to Foothills Trail due to construction on the trail! This time we found away around the construction and made the Foothills, 31st. bike lane to Starbuck's at Colorado Ave and 31st. for lunch. 

We headed back the same way and stopped up at the Mesa Overlook just off the Mesa Trail, the back to Foothills, Sinton and headed home.

October 2, 2025- Heading to Sacred Grounds, CAFE that is! ;) Wanted to head back to the Sacred Grounds Cafe heading towards North Cheyenne Canyon Park. Got iced tea and ate our brown bag lunch. 

Headed back down the bike lane over to the Creekside Center to get a photo op but it was taped off due to the were constructing a "STAGE" for local concerts, etc. along the walkway. We turned around and headed for the Tejon St. bike lane, America the Beautiful Park and headed home of the Pikes Peak Greenway.

October 5, 2025- Motorless Morning at the Garden of the Gods. Twice a year (april/october)

they close the Garden of the Gods City Park to all "AUTO TRAFFIC" in the park from 5 am to 12 Noon! Again, we headed up Sinton Trail and Foothills trail to the GOG Park. They even set up SLOW DOWN areas to keep the speeds down, walkers, bicyclists, dog walker, skaters, runners take over the park and it's a very enjoyable ride. The weather was totally awesome, so it was a fun day for a ride in the park!

We rode the park and shot video, just a perfect day and had a brown bag lunch and headed back into Colorado Springs and home.

October 8, 2025- Jo's Angletech Service and then flowers for my MOM's Birthday!

We headed up the PP Greenway and of course, Sinton Trail to Angletech to get Jo's trike serviced, new front tires, chain and finally "ball joints" for the front-end steering! Its taken a long time to get the "ball joints" for our trikes from England! I got mine in September and finally Her's arrived, so we got all the needed services done! 

From there we headed to the other side of town and Evergreen Cemetary to place some flowers on my Mom's headstone for her birthday. Headed back down into town and stopped at Starbuck's at the Antler's Plaza Hotel. It was getting late so we headed home from there.

October 9, 2025- Food Run and Lunch Ride. Sadly, it's that time again, had to do a food run before the rainy weather projected for Saturday. Hooked up the trailer and headed to Walmart Marketplace to stock up! Headed home on the Rock Island Trail, stowed away the foodstuff's and headed to lunch at Panera Bread, had a $2 off a sandwich coupon so we scored a "dipper" (roast beef and Ajus). Headed out to do the Vincent Bridge Loop Ride and then the PP Greenway home!

Well that's all for now folks, hoping the year brings a "Indian Summer" for November but got a feeling it's going to turn WINTER, way to Soon! Happy Trails!