Thursday, August 12, 2010

My Birthday Ride

I always go on the bike path on my birthday. Since my birthday is in mid August I am lucky lucky lucky to NEVER have to work on my birthday.  I generally make the day all about me! For several years I have been running but due to my heel this year I am biking.  The Burlington Bike Path crosses the Winooski River with a bike bridge that connects with Colchester. Then you meander through the neighborhoods until you come to the causeway, an old railroad track.  The track doesn't go quite all the way to South Hero. There is a "cut" that boats  can get through.  In the summer on the weekends you can take the bike ferry across and ride much farther.  You can't beat this relaxing beautiful bike ride as a birthday treat.
I am guessing this picture is from the dedication/grand opening of the bike bridge.



The causeway which is 3 miles one way until you reach the cut.

So today three of my friends and I rode the whole bike path which is always gorgeous and the causeway. It was a gorgeous day!  We rode slightly more than 24 miles in all but it is an easy 24 miles.  It is mostly flat. We got started fairly early and man did the bike path get crowded later.  A lot of the people at that point had no idea about bike path etiquette and were pretty much in the way!  



Riding near the beginning of the causeway 



Looking out - you can see it extending way in the distance(The white rocks on the side of the trail)


  
Looking ahead/My three friends/At the cut looking across- it's  a short distance


Green Mountains behind us



Adirondacks in the distance behind the bikes


A boat going through the cut




After the ride we went out to lunch which was excellent. It seemed like I barely got home and showered before it was time to leave for dinner with my husband and my son.  We went to a steak house where I had the most fantastic teriyaki steak. I intended to take pics but forgot to take a picture of the salad - it was fantastic,  took a picture of the steak when I was half done and took a picture of the chocolate peanut butter dessert when we were ALL done.  I shared!  So pictures of the meal equaled a failure!  







All in all -  a great birthday!


32 comments:

Pahla said...

HAPPY. HAPPY day to you!!! Looks like you really enjoyed it, you deserve it! :-)

Ewa said...

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
What a good idea to burn the calories before you eat them.

Monica said...

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! The causeway path looked like a neat place to run/bike. I could see myself running it in the evening or early morning before teh sun comes up.

Hope you had a SPECTACULAR day!!

LookingUpAgain said...

Happy Birthday!!! It looks like you had a good one :) May happy days continue :)

Heather said...

Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a great day. What a beautiful trail!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! That trail looks heavenly and the meal sounded awesome!

HappyTrails said...

That trail looks really neat! I guess it doesn't creep you out at all having water so close on both sides??? HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A fun day spent first with dear friends (burning calories is an added bonus!) topped off with a wonderful dinner and dessert with your hubby and son - how awesome is that? I really liked the chocolate-peanut butter dessert! :-)

Generation X (Slomohusky) said...

Happy Birthday!

Jill said...

Happy Birthday, AJH!!!! Those pictures of your bike trip look amazing!! So envious of all that water. And I think I just gained 9 lbs looking at that leftover dessert! Glad you enjoyed your beautiful day, Happy Birthday!

Amy said...

Happy Birthday - so glad you had such a wonderful day! And what a beautiful place to go biking - wow!

Char said...

Happy Birthday to you. Looks like the birthday weather gods were smiling on you.

Suzy said...

Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had a great time with friends. I have to say - it is great seeing all the helmets.

Johann said...

Happy Birthday! What a great way to spend it. That bike ride looks great. I could easily have that same meal now. Have a great year!

Tara said...

Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful day!

Julie said...

Happy Birthday to you! Wow, those are some great pictures with gorgeous views:) I want my bike...still figuring out what kind will be best for me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Darlene said...

Sounds like you had a great birthday..the bike path is so beautiful!!!

Jocelyn said...

Glad you had such a wonderful birthday!! :D

Katie A. said...

Happy Happy Birthday! What a fun day! You live in such a beautiful place! If it weren't for the snow, I would totally be your neighbor! LOL!
And, that dinner looks tasty! Glad you enjoyed your day!

Fran said...

Happy birthday and what a great tradition to go on that path every year on your birthday.

Anonymous said...

Glad you had a great day and what a beautiful place to spend it!!

Alisa said...

Happy Birthday!

What an awesome tradition!!!! What a pretty bike path too.

Molly said...

Happy Birthday!!! That looks like a lovely bike ride! I always forget to take pictures of my food, I'm too busy scarfing it down.

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

I'm sorry that you're still not running, but what a great ride! Hope the bridge isn't too narrow, though - that might make me a little uncomfortable when I'm on a bike. That last pic - the empty dessert plate - funny! Happy birthday!

Sarah K said...

Happy birthday! I'm sure the chocolate peanut butter was beautiful :-)

Fruit Fly said...

What a most gorgeous birthday you had!! How splendid. I must find a race in your part of the country so I can experience this for myself some time. Lovely!

Happy Birthday!!

Unknown said...

what a nice ride. Happy Birthday!

Emz said...

YAY!. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

That causeway ----- so beautiful but that steak. OMG I am getting one of those tonight!!!!

Heidi said...

Looks like you had a wonderful birthday. Super active, enjoyed with friends & family, and a great meal - it doesn't get much better than that.

MCM Mama said...

Happy birthday!!! Sounds like a fabulous day!

Anonymous said...

Sounds (and looks) like an amazing birthday! Glad it wass a great one :)

Pat said...

Happy Belated Birthday wishes to you! It's the same day as my brother's and I almost missed his too. I hope you had a great celebration.

Lindsay said...

happy belated birthday!! that is a gorgeous path! wow, you need to run/ride out there more! :)