Flipping through some old journals recently, I found an entry about my introduction to bike riding.   It invoked a wonderfully pleasant memory.

About 20 years ago, I was recently divorced and trying to determine who I was supposed to be and who I wanted to become.  One of my newly acquired interests was cycling.  I’d made a new friend who was an avid cyclist and was not only teaching me to love riding but also loaned me a bike.

One of our first cycling trips was to Caprock Canyons State Park just outside Quitaque, Texas.  We started the trip on Friday, arriving late and spending the night at a campsite.  Early the next morning we awoke to a herd of deer outside our campsite.  The deer were shrouded in fog and milling about on the grass completely unaffected by our presence.  After a quick breakfast of granola bars, we set out on our bicycles.

We rode on the park roads to help me get comfortable on the bike.  The roads were very hilly and I remember flying down the hills, building speed and then having to get off the bike and push it up the next hill, so I could soar down again!  I felt like I was six years old!  Of course my friend had no problem biking up or down.  We logged seven miles that morning and I was quite proud of the accomplishment.

In the afternoon, we drove to Quitaque Canyon Trail.  The trail is a nature trail formed along the path of an old railroad route.

The Quitaque Canyon Trail is about 17 miles long and according to Rails to Trails “This area is one of the most picturesque and interesting throughout the entire Trailway due in part to Clarity Tunnel at mile 12.”

I wouldn’t know about that.  I only made about 1/2 mile through the sand when I realized I wasn’t quite ready to tackle bicycling through sand.  I chose instead to sit at the trail head and write in my journal.  It was a beautiful and restful afternoon.

A few things that stand out in my mind from that day are:  Friends are invaluable, laughter really is the best medicine and the Rails-to-Trails Conservatory is a great organization.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a non-profit organization.  They have repurposed over 20,000 miles of trail.  If you enjoy nature and the idea of recycling the rail network to provide a trail system appeals to you, I highly recommend searching one of the Rails to Trails across the United States to hike or bike.  Relax, rediscover nature and maybe smile a bit.