Winter sports

February first and the temperature hit (at least) 66 today. Our northern winter is more like springtime in Northern California. I finished the month of January as I had started it - i.e. a ride through the countryside east of our new home. I actually rode something over 250 miles in January and would have done more were it not for a bit of wet weather and a really persistent bad cold. I don't think I can ever remember doing so many miles in January other than a couple of Florida vacations. And if I remember correctly last year around this time we were looking out at something like three feet of accumulated white stuff. I've also discovered a couple of cyclists living here in our new community. One is a fellow traveler from my Anchor House rides and the other a very active member of the local bike club. I went out with them one day last week and it included a monthly lunch with another 20 or so cyclists from the same club - I'm still missing my rides through the hilly areas of the Delaware and the Sourlands but the trade off might be riding with a bunch kindred biking souls. I may even join the bike club, something I've never really thought necessary in the past...Meantime I've also noticed others around the country experiencing this unseasonable weather: Illinois, Colorado, northern Jersey. It is truly a strange weather year. Let's hope the groundhog does not see a shadow tomorrow: with a winter like this spring will be like summer and I am ready....