Training Continues...

A special event marked the beginning of our ride. Last January, an owl was found severely injured on Highway 74 next to the Stinky Trails. One of the local mountain bikers found him and through a series of events, he ended up in Auburn University to be treated and rehabbed. This was done through the efforts and donations of the local mountain biking community, a great group of people that ride the Stinky Trails in Peachtree City.

The folks at Auburn, AL that treated Hooter

This evening, before Dan and I started our training ride, we were able to witness the release of "Hooter." He has been fully rehabbed! They took him into the woods along Stinky Trails and released him there. What was funny is that all of us had our cameras waiting to take a picture of Hooter coming out of the crate. They opened the top of the crate and that bird took off! None of us got any pictures of Hooter leaving the crate, we just got a picture of the crate (LOL!), but at least he is in the wild again.

Hooter is in the crate, but not for long!

Afterwards, Dan and I did a short ride. We meant to go longer, but due to some gearing problems, but mainly due to dying batteries on our lights, we had to turn around about midway and finish the ride, doing only about 7 1/2 miles. I wasn't too upset. I was getting cold as temperatures had dropped well into the 40s (it felt colder), but way too cold for Georgia this time of year.

My faithful steed

A clear and crisp evening in Peachtree City

On another note, we did a fundraiser this past Saturday evening at Crosspoint Community Church in Peachtree City to raise money for Rides for Redemption, the organization for which we are doing this ride at the end of next week. Not sure how much money was raised last night, but if anyone is interest ed in either donating to Rides for Redemption or participating in any of the rides, please check out the link. To remind everyone, the ride we are doing at the end of next week, the entire Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails, is to raise money and awareness for the refugees fleeing from ISIS.