Tried to take a 45-50 mile ride on the Illinois Prairie Path/Fox River Trail last Thursday, but had the fiance pick me up about 5 miles from home. Horses and mountain bikes all winter left the dirt/gravel trails with tons of ruts to make the first part of the ride relatively slow. When I got to the Fox River Trail, the ride smoothed out with a paved trail and the best scenery. The last leg took me back to another portion of the Prairie Path, which had a detour due to a little bit of construction. The gravel was very loose and my 1 1/4" tires sunk into it, leaving me struggling to keep a 5mph speed. I've never taken that route, so I didn't know that I was so close to home until she was already on her way. Taking the trail conditions into mind, it was still great to get out riding again. I'll have to give that route another try in a few weeks.

Pics below are from the Fox River Trail. With smooth conditions, I didn't feel much like stopping to take more. Although the trees were bare, at least there was a little bit of wildlife returning.