It starts slowing down around Topeka ride-wise right about this time of the year. The evening rides sort of become nonexistent because even with daylight saving time, there isn’t enough time to get in an even sort of good ride. Everyone still meets a couple of times a week, once for cross practice and the other for a “new” gravel night-time ride from the local bike shop. It leaves at 6 pm and goes a couple of hours.

For some reason, 6 pm at this time of the year seems way later than 6 pm during the summer. It has to be a light deal, but whatever the reason is, I sort of hate waiting around until dark to ride.

That is until I ride in the dark, then it’s a completely different story. I like riding at night. I like the lack of vision and amplified hearing. I like the perception of accelerated speed. I like just about everything about it other than getting ready and walking out the door. I’m going to try to make more of the Monday, gravel, night rides this year. I always enjoy them once I start.

Fall in Kansas is pretty great usually. It is super late this year. Normally the majority of leaves are on the ground by Halloween. This year, the Oak trees in my front yard are still green. I guess it hasn’t gotten cold enough to get everything moving.

At Berryman on Saturday, the leaves just started dropping like crazy about 1/2 way through the race. Sometimes it was like riding in just a snow of leaves. I loved it. It distracted me from all the physical problems I was having.

Okay, it’s raining today. A wet fall, cold day. I stayed up way too late last night, past 2 am, so I’m underslept. It’s not a bad day to try to catch up a little on that if I get a chance.

Here are a few misc. photos from the last couple days.

The Kansas River has been pretty low the whole year, but still looks picturesque.

I like it when leaves fall into ponds. It seems like they are supended in place and it changes the color of the water.

The Maple trees are looking good this year.

This is my high school, Topeka High. It is a very impressive building.

They just finished putting a new copper dome on the Capitol. The last one was leaking, I guess. It will evenutally turn green, but maybe not for decades.

I saw this decaying bird house in an alley. It seemed wrong to let it deteriorate like this.

It is just dusk when we were heading out of town on the Landon Trail last night.

The shadows for lights are cool too.

I resealed my tires yesterday and when I went to get on my bike last night, the rear was leaking sealant in dozens of places. I’ve never seen that before. I can’t believe that there are that many cuts in the tire, but there is no other explanation.

Fall is oatmeal time. I made way too much yesterday. I’ve been cutting up apples and mixing it with raisins recently.

The Walberg’s house is officially on the market, so if you’re looking to move to Topeka, there is a place available.