Winter Has Its Charms I guess - More Trail Walks, Rides and Runs

Jan 15, 2017. This part of the trail ... looks like the entrance to
 the magic kingdom, couldn't have planned it better. 

 Was this morning as good as it looked? Yes, I'd say so.

 Was that afternoon as grim as it looked? No, not really.

 We got out together, that's the first part;
not too much snow, that's next.

 Blue skies, check;

 Cold enough to keep it from being slushy, check;

On a clear day you'd be looking at Manhattan in the distance.
But foggy days have their special charm, especially by
the water. Jan 22, 2017.

 Not all good bike riding, running or even walking days are sunny -- or windless. And if it is windy, then the shelter of the reeds and trees can take the edge off, or even transform it to calm.

 This bike ride, however, started out with a couple of familiar questions — "Damn, this is painful! Remind me ... why am I doing this again?" and "What the heck do people find fun about dressing up in layers to go riding in near freezing weather?"

 But as most cycling addicts know, those two questions usually become less persistent within a few miles, and the needle subtly, imperceptibly shifts from shades of discomfort toward almost pleasure.   

One way traffic round the point. Windblown and overwash sand.
A touch of the Hamptons within 20 miles of the city, rather than 120.

 This day was neither sunny nor windless.

  In the morning, we had walked in the gray gloom on the shoreline trail, then taken a break for lunch. 

 But the week and the start of the weekend had been long and crazy, and the urge was strong to get back out there and clean the mind completely with a ride.

 To be honest, 45F and gray did feel pretty cold after a week with unprecedented, almost historically warm, sunny days in the low 50s.  But there was another motive at work: the gray skies and a growing northeast wind that was filling out the flags, portended a massive 'Noreaster.

 By midnight the trees would be roaring in the wind and the raindrops would be flying horizontally for the next 48-72 hours. So yes, if I wanted to ride at all in the next few days, I better do it now, while the mood is still mellow.