New Year's Day Meander

Haven't quite figured out how or even why I'm doing this, but here goes. Above is a map and profile of my first ride of the new year. I decided to stay close to home and ride a 22 mile loop around the city. First I headed down to Lake Montebello for a quick lap - where I saw my friends Gayle and Danielle enjoying the pretty day with their son. I waved and rang my bell, but a mile later I realized I had on a helmet, sunglasses, and a balaclava - so they probably had no idea who I was... Then I headed across 33rd and around Hopkins up to Druid Hill via Wyman Park Drive. I also did a lap around Druid Hill Reservoir for one of my favorite views of the city;

[I'll try to post a more recent view at some point]

Then a quick ramble through the park - past all those great gazebos - including Parkie's Lakeside where Joanne and I were married. Once I got past the zoo I discovered that the next section of the Jones Falls Trail is well under way and followed it down the back side of the park into Clipper Mill - this includes a crazy series of switchbacks that should make for a fun climb once it is complete. After this surprise detour the wind and cold started to catch up with me so I decided to head for home - across the 41st bridge to 40th then 39th Street where I picked up my usual commute home through Guilford and across Woodbourne. 22 miles and 1500 feet of climbing - a good start to having that 3000 mile year that I didn't quite reach last year. Learned a few things about my new fenders - first of all when leaves get stuck in them it sounds just like a flat tire - second is that my first attempt to jerry rig them with some wire ties wasn't entirely successful.