Centennial Trail

Around last April we found a pretty great deal on a bike trailer for E to ride in so we had to get it. I had all these images of us going on family bike rides every night and then there could be bike rides during the day and in the mornings on the weekends but ... well, that never happened. 

So it sat unused in storage/the garage waiting for us to finally see its real potential--not just a guard gate to keep little guys away from the furnace. 

Ben took E for a little spin a few weeks ago and it made me realize how long it's been since I've even ridden my bike (think about how old E is plus the 9 months I was pregnant with him). Needless to say, it's been way too long. 

So finally, a few Saturdays ago Ben did a little research and found us the perfect spot to go bike riding. It's a 30ish mile trail that reminds me a lot of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle. It took us past cows and cars and fields and rocks, lots of blackberry bushes and it even follows a river for a little ways. 

But the best thing it goes past is a pretty fun little park. The park was so fun, in fact, that we didn't make it any further past the park because E was having a blast playing with all the kids that were there for a birthday party. 

If you know E at all, you know how much he was enjoying himself.

One thing new we learned about E on this little adventure was that he LOVES his helmet on but not buckled. He also insists everyone else keep their helmets on when he's wearing his. 

I can't say I blame him for wanting to wear it though. It's a very cool helmet.

We finally pulled him off the playground and headed back to our car. Realizing that it was nap-time, I stuck a blanket next to him so he could use it as a pillow.

Apparently, he didn't realize the blanket was for his head because he fell asleep in the most uncomfortable looking position ever.

We took our time packing up the car but eventually we had to wake him up and stick him in. I was hoping he'd fall back to sleep but he didn't. Instead he just insisted on wearing his helmet while he was in the car.

He stayed like this, unmoving, for most of the ride home until he suddenly got a burst of energy and we realized there would be no more nap for E that day.

But it was worth it. I can't wait to go again and explore another stretch of Centennial Trail.