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- Maggie Kuhn
December to April - snow, snow and more snow.
My eBike lived indoors throughout December and January,
within reach, but unused.
I occasionally turned it on for old time's sake, gripped the handlebars, sat on the seat, and once (just once) took it for a short indoor ride through the living room.
I told it that we would be out on the land again.
Soon.
February.
There were a few sunny days when it seemed like a good idea to go for
a gentle spin to the gate and back, and as long as I stayed in the car wheel tracks,
(which provided a bit of texture),
this was largely successful.
It was in late Winter/early Spring that I was fooled.
Our laneway looked benign enough,
just like it had earlier in the Winter.
(Just like the above photo, the one with granddog Sully.)
Yes, it looked safe, and I was SO eager to resume my daily cycling routine.
However, it was what lurked below the inch of compacted textured snow that was
the problem.
A skating rink.
All went well for half of the outbound trip to the gate.
At the halfway point, (where our little cabin still stands), is a curve in the laneway.
Perhaps it was the slight change in direction.
Perhaps it was due to that area being a bit more open,
and the sun hitting the ground there, causing the laneway to thaw slightly,
then freeze, then thaw, then freeze........
Perhaps I momentarily lost my concentration.
March and April = maple syruping in this neck of the woods.
All-consuming.
The trails were cleared, but not fit for any vehicle other than
'sled' (snowmobile) or 'bike' (four-wheeler).
More waiting.
But the proverbial light
was just beginning to glimmer at the end of the
long, long, LONG Winter
tunnel.
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