April Fools Sunburn and Picnic Ride

April 1, 2012
Colorado, USA

Temperatures were forecast to be in the eighties today! In northern Colorado! In April!

This is Tim's first weekend off since late January so after spending a lazy morning over our coffee we packed a quick picnic lunch and rolled out the drive with no particular destination in mind. Our intent was clear - make a day of it.

We thought about riding north to Wyoming but decided winds would likely be an issue and there was no reason to ride out to meet the cold front due in later today. We thought about testing the roads in the high country but decided there was no reason to ride cold when we finally had a warm day to ride. No. We simply headed south along familiar country lanes sharing the road with more than an average number of bicyclists, convertibles, hot rods, and motorcycles. Anyone with a toy was rolling today. Boats were out on lakes. People were hauling campers around. Hang gliders were testing the theory of gravity and wind sheers all along our way. Trees and shrubs are in full bloom, perhaps a bit early in the season. And I can guarantee that anyone out today went home with a sunburn.

Spring has sprung

We got as far south as Boulder where there was simply too much traffic so we headed east and along the way saw the Easter bunny out for a ride in a convertible.

Eventually we rolled into the small town of Mead where we know this quiet little city park and that's where we decided to have our picnic. We dined on baloney sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies and jelly beans. Just before we were ready to roll out a couple of little girls brought their dogs to the park. The larger of the two dogs looked like a lab and he had as much fun on the playground slide as the girls.

The Ride - April Fools!

Tim says - hey come watch this dog!

I tried to get a pic of the dog on the slide but he was too quick - the best I could get was his tail as he slid down head first.

Oh yeah - he's a bit crispy

We zig-zagged our way home, riding east and then far north of the city, stopped for an ice cream sundae and finally made our way back to the patio where we built a fire in the chiminea and lounged on the patio with a beer until well after dark.

Relaxing after an April Fools Ride

This is what I get for laying the camera down

We both have our first sunburn of the year although Tim caught more rays than I did. Today's ride was 185.8 miles says my numbers guy. Getting to ride three back-to-back days in northern Colorado at this time of year was just what we needed to shake off cabin fever and winter doldrums. Of course, winter is far from over - Colorado's idea of April Fools is 80 degrees and sunburn one day followed by 40 degrees, overnight snow and a return to our flannels.