Day 4: Cold and Windy Day. Garnett to Ottawa

One of the cairns along the trail. (WE waved back.) 
We had a relatively leisurely morning.  In no hurry to be riding in 40° weather, we lingered over breakfast at Prairie Belles Kitchen.  It was warming and satisfying.  Before walking back to the Kirk House, Diane made a quick stop at a thrift store where she bought a stocking hat to wear under her helmet.  Rob was content to wear his standard under-helmet thin cotton handkerchief.  Brr!  As we were about to mount our bikes, Diane got out a pair of Smartwool socks to pull over her fingerless gloves, and off we went at 11:40 AM.  By this time, it had warmed to about 44° and the sun was shining, but the wind was, again, cold and adverse.

Nonetheless, we did enjoy the ride!  The thing about “out and back” rides – it’s not like you are seeing the same thing twice.  The views and vistas are remarkably different because of perspective.  Even the trail seems different – we often remark that it seems to be uphill both directions!

Diane took particular joy in giving her new grasshopper friend a short ride.  As we went through a cloud of grasshoppers, one landed on her jacket sleeve.  It was a gorgeous green and quite large, so she stopped to get a picture. Then, aAssuming Grasshopper would fly off, she began pedaling.  But Grasshopper remained aboard.  Not wanting Grasshopper to abandon the Cloud, she stopped and gently brushed him off.  (We think  Grasshopper is a member of Obscure Birdwing Grasshopper - Schistocerca obscura species.)

By three o’clock we were back at our Ottawa hotel.  We made lunch/dinner/dessert in our hotel suite with groceries from Walmart and leftovers from El Jimador, and had a relaxing warm evening.

The next day we had another leisurely and yummy breakfast at the Old 56 Family Restaurant, and readied our bikes and gear for loading into Frank’s big Ford pickup! 

We were a bit saddened to have shortened our bike tour, but it was great to have a little more time with Frank and Angela!
 
Diane with sock gloves and her grasshopper friend :)

Schistocerca obscura in all its glory. 
The wind that sealed the deal on the end of the ride.

 But whatever the weather, Diane still loves to ride her bike.  Happy Trails to All. 




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