Snakes on a Plain

Decided to do some exploring today and took my bike out to Riverside State Park for some trail-riding.  With temperatures pushing 70 degrees I had to take advantage of the weather.  There were quite a few people out riding bikes, jogging and hiking the well-maintained and paved trail so I thought it would be nice to head off the  beaten path and find some nature.  Along the way I came across a new forest beginning to spring up which looked almost alien, I felt really tall.

New trees growing,  there was an elk hiding in them
but I couldn't get a picture.

Once I got to the top of the incredible steep hill I was impressed by the views.  I was hoping I would be able to see the mountains so I could get some cool shots of the snowcaps that are very prominent but alas I was limited to foothills and my ugly mug.

Pretty spectacular view, and the landscape is nice too.

At the top of the hill there was the remains of a cement silo.  I instantly thought of how crappy it would be to have built the structure a few hundred feet up a hill with no service road.  I climbed up a board so I could peek inside the silo and was not surprised to find the floor littered in beer cans, pretty classy.

My little hiker's stack with a decrepit silo
in the background.

I took a less steep path back down the hill and came across some more old concrete structures which I later found out were remnants of 7-mile camp, a conservation corp. camp established in the 1940's or maybe even earlier.  While exploring I saw a log that looked like a great place to sit and catch my breath but as stepped next to it I literally felt the wind of a snake snapping at my leg.  I'm pretty positive it was the quickest I've ever moved to get out of the range of the fanged beast.

I don't think I've ever jumped higher in my life.

 Overall it was a good ride, I went about 10 miles and will hopefully get back out on that trail again soon.

life blog

This is a place where I will compile all the happenings of my life.  I like the idea of chronicling my adventures, even though they are far and few between.  Looking at them all in one place will be an encouraging sense of accomplishment and hopefully lead to new journeys.  I'll link to my new posts through twitter/facebook.  Let the archival begin.