WHATCHATHINKIN'

For riders living in the northeast of the US, we enjoyed a really wonderful riding season. For the most part, our weather was dry and warm, with a bout of pretty hot in the beginning of the summer and dry – too dry – in September and October. Pretty much on schedule, about Thanksgiving, we dipped into the ‘Wow, it’s pretty cold this morning’ temperatures. Yup, that lake-effect snow made a mess of upper New York state about the same time, but folks up there are pretty used to that, I think.

I can deal with the cold. I can even tolerate some snow. It’s the darkness that makes this time of year, well, depressing. As much as I try, SAD will get its fingers around my brain and attempt to drag me into the cushions of the couch to sit out the winter while binging on Rick and Morty or the full 15 seasons of Supernatural. Hey, I have nothing against watching Sam and Dean kick some demon ass, but the need to be up and active when it gets dark at 4:30pm is a real struggle.

A few years ago, Brian and I started playing pool at one of our local hangs – Gyp’s Tavern – which certainly made the winter doldrums move along a bit quicker. I had been taking piano lessons for a few years, and that had me out at least once a week to tinkle the keys. Brian will still head to the bike barn to tinker with various projects when the weather permits, while I occasionally visit, sit on the bikes and make ‘Vroom, Vroom’ noises.

Of course, should the temps head above the 45 degree mark, I’m all in for a brisk lunch ride. I give ALL kudos to those intrepid souls who attend the Polar Bear rides taking place throughout the winter months. When the destination falls close enough to Backroads Central, we’ll take a ride to mingle with these cold-weather cowboys and girls.

This time is also spent researching destinations for the upcoming year. We have files and folders full of places for each of our monthly columns – We’re Outta Here, Great All American Diner Run, Big City Getaway and Inside Scoop. The good Dr. O’Life will send his missives when he is within communication range during his long walkabouts. And we do love getting suggestions from you, our wonderful readers, so keep them coming.

Other winter planning includes our rallies. 2025 puts us in our 30th year of publishing Backroads – a milestone we had never guessed we’d reach. Our July 2025 issue will be the actual 30 year mark, so keep an eye out for some sort of celebration, perhaps in conjunction with National Ice Cream month, as that certainly seems fitting.

As far as counting down to the end of winter, or at least the return of a warmer sun in our hemisphere, there are several methods. Being baseball fan(atics), we begin our countdown with pitchers and catchers returning to the field for spring training. As of this writing, with the date of return being February 12, there are 66 days until their return (I’ll leave out the hours/minutes/seconds). To further the dateline, opening day is set for March 30, which extends the wait another 46 days. You can take away 10 days from that if you’d like to factor it to the first day of Spring (March 20). If you are said Polar Bear rider, their season is over on April 6, so you’ve got another 7 days past baseball opening day.

Brian began a countdown of his own with the weeks left of garbage and recycling to be collected before the sun begins rising before 6am, which, coincidentally, is the spring equinox which begins at 5:01am on March 20.

Other signs that bring a smile to my face to show that the darkness is coming to an end are the crocus and daffodil poking their greenery out from the still frosty earth. Similarly the fuzzy blooms of the pussy willow begin to emerge and the lilac bushes have a tinge of purple around their branches.

I will continue to be optimistic for a mild winter with many riding days to pass this dark time and, before I know it, it will be time to put the hummingbird feeders back up and watch the early Robin catching its worms, as well as being on the bike all day, sunrise to sunset, enjoying the warming sun and longer days. Let the countdown begin.