Checking Things Out

One of the most interesting things about riding on the greenways is the cross-section of people you see. Some of them are hardcore, year-round athletes, particularly runners and bikers. In fact, the trails are surprisingly crowded on sunny winter days, even when it’s chilly. I’m not sure about the hardcore part, but I ride year-round. I received a really nice quilted riding jacket this past Christmas, and it works well in temperatures from the high 30s to the 40s. That, along with gloves, ear muffs of some kind (the ones that wrap around the back of your head work best because they don’t interfere with a helmet) and long riding tights make colder rides almost pleasant (emphasis on almost).

Bundled up for a cold ride.

Other greenway users are more casual. You see them more on weekends and in warmer weather. They walk (mostly), often in groups, and some of them maintain a steady jog. They’re wearing either the latest fitness clothing and shoes fresh from the store or older stuff that obviously hasn’t been used in years. I think it’s great for anyone to get outside and move around, and I definitely agree with the saying that no matter how slow you’re going, you’re lapping the people who stayed at home. But, it’s easy to chuckle a bit when you see someone wearing brand new trendy workout gear on their first foray on the greenway. I may have even looked the same way on my first few rides (probably not, but one never knows). With spring rapidly heading toward summer, more of the casual greenway users have been out lately.  

At the beginning of a recent ride, I passed some of those casual greenway users at the entrance of the Mingo Creek trail in Knightdale. As I went by I overheard them saying that they had wanted to check out the trail but had been waiting for spring. That reminded me of some friends at work who had said the same thing: they wanted to “check out” a nearby greenway trail when the weather became more conducive. Without realizing it, I had created a theme for that day’s ride.

I rolled down the access path and turned onto the trail. The Mingo Creek trail is about three miles long and I find that it’s the perfect warm up for a longer ride. It is a bit curvy compared to the long straight stretches of the Neuse River trail, but most of the turns are wide enough that you can pick up some speed and get your heart pumping. Five minutes or so into the ride I encountered a snake. You see one about every 8-10 rides when it’s warm, mostly black snakes with the occasional copperhead and the even more occasional green snake. Usually they are crossing, or have stopped on the trail. My rule of thumb is to leave them alone. I figure that when I'm out there in the woods I’m on their territory, so I give them a wide berth. They generally leave you alone, although they sometimes coil up as you go by them. This one, I swear, was just checking out the trail. His head and a little bit of his neck were on the concrete, with the rest of his body trailing off into the grass. He didn’t move as I approached and it really looked like he was just looking around…or checking things out. So I drifted over to the other side of the trail and went by him quickly.  I passed a few walkers and one runner as I made my way to the Neuse trail and turned north. Several of them were looking around somewhat wide-eyed, a sure sign that they are first timers, or more of those casual trail users. No doubt they were checking things out.

If you follow the Neuse trail north from Knightdale, it goes past the Hedingham subdivision and crosses under Buffalo Road, 540, 401 and Capital Boulevard, ending at Falls Lake. It makes for a great ride because the trail is mostly flat and straight. Just past 401 the trail goes by the WRAL soccer park, where you can park your car and enter the trail. There were more walkers near that entrance, enjoying the scenery, reading the little trail signs that point out beaver dams and other features, and exploring. Later I passed a baby deer. He was peacefully munching on some greenery less than 20 feet from the trail. He didn’t appear exactly relaxed, but he didn’t exactly appear vigilant or alert either. He was just watching people as they went by on the trail…checking things out. I saw an adult deer about 4 miles later down the trail. It was doing just what the baby did: nonchalantly eating and watching people go by. I can’t read deer expressions, but they looked like they might even be enjoying themselves.

I pedaled all the way to Falls Lake, where there’s a restroom and water fountain, and turned back. That made the ride 46 miles, in just under three hours. It was great fun and great exercise. During the entire ride, however, I kept noticing those other people enjoying their first trips out on the trail, and I had the feeling they were having a better time than I was. Riding has become something I really love to do, but it has lost its newness. My goal is to ride 200 miles each month, so I’m out there a lot. When we get used to something, even when we love it so much, it can lose some of its luster. This can happen in relationships, with a new job, a new car. You can see it with children and new toys. It's important to remember why we enjoy things. The enjoyment may evolve, but don't let it fade. It was nice to be reminded by newer trail users, two deer and a big old black snake just how wonderful it is to get out there on the trail, and just ride.