3 Mile Bike Ride Around Walnut Creek Lake

Walnut Creek Lake Arrival

Our First Together Bike Ride

April 19, 2008 Vicky and I rode our bikes for our first bike ride together of the year. Yes, we somehow managed to load Vicky's three wheeler and my Schwinn Jaguar both on the bike rack of the car, drove the 15 miles to Walnut Creek Lake, and made a complete circuit of the lake, counterclockwise. If you are familiar with this trail, I'll add that our starting point was the boat launch area.

Schwinn Jaguar (Walnut Creek Lake Trail)

Around The Lake On A Schwinn Jaguar

It's a three mile ride, according to what I have read. My Bell bicycle computer (speedometer) on my Schwinn Jaguar would work, quit working, then begin to work again, so it only recorded 2.22 miles.

This three mile bike ride felt much further than three miles to us newbies, but it sure beat walking! Okay, I can still ride after about 40 years off the bike, but I was a bit wobbly at times, and I definitely need to build up my strength. A few of the hills were a real challenge to me.

Worksman Three Wheeler (Walnut Creek Lake Trail)

Around The Lake On A Worksman Three Wheeler

We stopped quite a few times on our ride, and one of our early stops was to give us a few minutes to calm down a bit after Vicky had problems on a downhill stretch. Her three wheeler picked up quite a bit of speed, and I was worried that she might lose control of the bike, and I think she was having the same thought.

I caught up with her and hollered at her to use her brakes to slow down, which she did, and managed to bring her speed down to something more manageable.

Almost Break Time (Walnut Creek Lake Trail)

Almost Break Time

This picture taken a bit further into our ride. At this stop we had not reached the halfways point, and were trying to decide whether or not to make the complete circle of the lake. I left the decision up to my wife, and I was hoping she wanted to do the whole trail.

A final decision was not made till we took a nice break at the picnic area near the main parking lot at Walnut Creek Lake. Yes, we decided to keep going, though we had never walked the final portion of the trail and really didn't know what it would be like.

Break On The Hill (Walnut Creek Lake Trail)

Long Uphill Stretches

After crossing the dam there were longer uphill stretches than we preferred on this final segment of our ride. I was very impressed at my wife's determination to make it up all the hills on her single speed three wheeler. There was only one hill she could not conquer, and by the time we reached that we were both getting worn out.

The last portion of our ride was a very enjoyable downhill coast of a nice distance down to the parking lot. It almost made the uphill portions worthwhile.

The trail was not too crowded, and to experienced riders it probably would be considered easy. There were even young children going around the lake's trail on bikes with training wheels! Still it was somewhat of a challenge to us.

We both did okay today, worked up quite an appetite, and on our next ride we will try to select a trail that is more level.

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