Smell the Roses by Butterfly

It drives me nuts to ride through an area and not feel like I have seen it – it’s one of the reasons I enjoy riding alone.

But riding solo or with others always dictates how I ride. I have ridden with friends who are happy to follow along with whatever I decide, which is the best of both worlds as I get to enjoy their company and see the sights. And at the same time, I’m always happy to do what others suggest and am glad for input too.

Stopping to walk the paths and smell the roses, riding the scenic route, avoiding freeways and stopping before dark to setup camp sometimes means I don’t ride as many miles as some during a day. But while browsing the local shops and hiking to a waterfall might mean I don’t get as far as others, it’s worth it to experience each place before moving on.

I have gone on a few trips where someone else has planned the route with long days and not many stops, but I quickly learned to plan more. I have had the advantage of a few rides with people who have known an area better than me. They know where to stop and what to see. That’s perfect and I really enjoyed those days and appreciated their knowledge of an area.

I admire those who can do large mileage rides, and understand the stress it puts on the body. I have done a few trips with longer than I had planned days and usually ended each day almost falling off my bike and going to bed as soon as possible. I find this pretty hard to do day after day, enjoy the ride and not zone out. That’s why my favourite days are planned around smelling the roses.

Biking with Butterfly