Now that spring is finally here, I have noticed that riding on Northbranch Trail after Dark there is so much activity going on. I must have counted a dozen raccoons, 2 of them screaming like bloody hell at each other. I also had several Rabbits dart in front of me on Fri. Last fall I saw a while fox in Wilmette, I also love coming across the deer on the tall bike, they do not scare easy. I think part is they have never seen anything like me coming up on them. Also there is a giant tree blocking the path between Golf Rd. and Emerson in Morton Grove. I wish I had a pic, but all my batteries were dead. Interesting thing is when it is late out and everything is buzzing, you become extra sensitive to your surroundings. I am almost positive, nature blocked the bike path to test me. See the tree is so big, it extends almost 40 feed beyond the path. Along that section of the wood on Friday, it was thick with brush and also pretty wet and muddy on the outer section of the fell. When I attempted to cross around it, I was immediately tangled up in the brush and my feet became ankle deep in mud. I was sure the forest was going to suck me up into the ground and would never be seen again. Because I don't ever panic or freak out, it did finally manage to make it around the blocked path with considerable effort. Some of the things I enjoy very much about Northbranch trail is the section near New Trier. About 100 yards of path is the focus of a very low point of energy. This is the only part of Northbranch stretching from Lake Forest to Chicago that thaws out from ice and snow last even though it does get direct sunlight all day. I think Indians are buried out there close by.... Another fine quality of NBT is the yellow line. Even with a very small light, I can see the Line and the Blackness of the leading edges. I also really think it is cool when mist hangs over path and the moonlight reflects from it.
Besides feeling the need to rant about the haunted woods, I would like to know if there is anyone on this site that rides down to the city and back on a regular basis. I know for sure I am the only person out at 2am and later once I pass Howard St, much less on a tall bike most of the time. I'd really like to know someone who comes down for mass or rides as a commuter. I mean there mny people who ride bikes in the city but not here. The hardcore racers I usually see up here are generally nice, but I am not part of that culture and I am to weird and skinny for spandex. I am also a city person living in the north shore and I am way to raunchy from that crowd. So, even if you have a wooden leg and I have to ride you on the handlebars it would be nice to ride with someone into Chicago (at least for Mass) My choice routes for the City now or Willow rd to green bay trail and follow the lake, or NBT to Devon and then down Elston into my world.
As for this posting and the subject matter, If you want to leave comments about the wood, forest preserve, camping on bikes, maybe crazy people you have met in the woods on bikes, bikes made of wood and would you ever ride a bike at night on the trail.