SNOW!

 Both Monday and Tuesday I did morning and afternoon rides.  Stupid 20,000 miles, ha!  Monday both were on the Cutthroat.  48 in the morning and 63 in the afternoon.  Jen met some friends for a hike at Wildwood Monday afternoon.  I had her drop me off at the Wobegon Trailhead in St. Joseph.  The roads, especially through towns, are a mess from the dusting of snow and full sun.  

I took the Wobegon almost to Freeport.  Not a ton of snow on the trail but enough to really slow you down.  Off the trail I headed North and East.  Yep, ended up in Holdingford.  Once the sun set and the near full moon came out the temperature really dropped.  It was the first "painful, scary cold" ride of the year.  For the last 2 hours or so my hands were pulled inside my lobster mitts in a fist around a chemical hand warmer...always cold.  I started to get cold all over, from the inside.  When this happened I'd pound it up a hill to warm up the body.  Downhills were painful.  I'd sometimes apply the brakes to scrub some speed.  I made it home in one piece and frostbite free.  Sitting by the fire and hot soup sure helped!

Off the Wobegon heading North.  Moon is on it's way up and the temps down.

Tuesday it was just below zero in the morning.  Thus I took the Mukluk with pogies.  My hands just can't handle anything else when it's that cold.  I hit up the South trails, race track, North Loop, Cross Over, and Friedrich Park.  26 miles.

Gearing up for the sub zero temps.  Yes I put a helmet on.

That afternoon I headed out again on the Mukluk as it started to snow.  I went down county road 8 to Island View Park.  Back down 8 to Sand Prairie, skimmed the North Loop and home.  27 miles.  Man riding in the new snow was a blast!  

Down at Island View park as it started to snow.

This puts me at 172 miles left for 20,000 on the year.  The 4" of snow we got overnight isn't helping.  Although I'm stoked we got more snow.  Honestly not sure what I will get in today.  I'm off today and tomorrow so riding will happen.  Just not sure what and where because of the snow.  It'll be close!