Roads under construction and fun with the weather

Wanted to get used to spinning flat fireroad type stuff on the mtb, so I figured the now under construction Stoney Trail ring road would be perfect. Yeah, it's marked as closed, but what harm could I possibly do? I throw on the iPod and head north from my place.

It's a nice downhill grade to start as I head west. It's very strange as they already have all the exit signs up. "Shagganappi Trail 5km.." etc. I wish I had brought my camera. I pass a worker in a truck (it's about 9pm) and he pays no attention to me at all. Not a really exciting ride, but I didn't have a lot of choice getting out this late. I turn around on the already paved portion near the NW Costco and head back east.

I pedal all the way to the unfinished bridge over Nose Creek. There are 2 old farmhouses here that I have never seen before. Just far enough away from highway 2 that they are hidden from view. I spin around on some gravel road and decide to head back before my wife gets too worried about me. I've been riding for 2 hours and said I'd only be gone 1.

Packed up the crew Friday and headed for K Country. Highway 40 was calling, figured I'd get some good spinning on the road bike there. I was dropped off at Barrier Lake and off into a glorious headwind. Nice day, for the most part, but I was about to find out that you can't really count on weather in the mountains to be stable.

Just over an hour into the ride, I round the bend and see a huge black cloud. Great. I was hoping to avoid this. It always happens when you happen to drag your wallet with you on the ride that you're bound to get soaked. No jacket, of course. I do an about face and shift into the big gears. 30 seconds later, I'm in the middle of a nice shower. Not too bad. I keep going.

I see a sheet of water in the distance and know immediately that I am fucked. Torrential downpour 1 minute later. Awesome. I try to keep forward momentum, which is easy since I have the world's best tailwind. I am soaked to the skin within seconds. I'm actually enjoying it. 5 minutes later, the rain has passed, the clouds have moved on. 10 more minutes and there's no sign of rain at all. And I'm totally dry. My wallet survived nicely between the spare tube and the energy gel in my pocket.

I wait at the predetermined pickup spot and watch a mountain goat eating and a bald eagle soaring in the distance. Humans weren't meant to be boxed in cubes in front of screens, we were meant to be right here. My wife and son pick me up. David smiles at me and says "Daddy loves mountains". I most certainly do.