Who shops on the holiday?

This season is winding down rapidly.  Last week we enjoyed long rides with perfect 60 degree weather and the cool dry fall air rolled through the barren woods.  The winds this year stripped the leaves efficiently, we can look forward to healthy green grass in the springtime as a result.  The piles in the bike lanes have been cleared before the first snow,

which happened the other day when a winter storm came early and left 5 or 6 inches of fluffy stuff on the streets.  I erred to the side of caution and put the (ugh) studs on Byron.  Temps promise to be in the 20's in the morning and despite the promise of an El Nino winter, we can expect icy patches for the morning commutes.  Besides that, the Panaracer Nifty Swifty tires I have been using on that bike proved to be less durable than the Soma Express I had used in the past. I am allergic to flats. I break out in embarrassing obscenities.  So the studs make a little protection from ice and flats available.
    If it seems I am posting less often these days, you are right and thanks for noticing.  I don't like being repetitive and the most adventurous of rides in the coming season are commutes which by definition are repetitive.  So during this cold season what I post will more than likely amount to random meanderings and thoughts as the season of wind training for others develops.

     It's the day of the ritual fowl sacrifice.  In my case, we visit a friend's where they hold a Thankgiving feast for International students at WMU who would otherwise be stuck at home doing laundry and wondering what the big deal is all about.  Everybody brings a dish native to their culture to supplement the turkey and mashed potatoes.

I always fill my first plate with all the stuff I've never seen and can't pronounce.

The turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie makes for dessert.

This year we had families from Indonesia, Malaysia,

Tanzania, Egypt, India, China, Japan and Ohio.

All getting together and sharing stories about their own counties and holidays there.
Fortunately no politicians showed up to muck up the camaraderie.

     The holiday weekend also brought a group together to raise funds for some trail work.  I was late to that party, but guessed at the gravel roads they were riding and backtracked the route until I was greeted by one of the groups.  WE had a 20 mile spirited gravel ride.  It was a cold and blustery day, but nearly 30 people got off the trainers for a ride.  Those of us in the shorter group

 waited for the larger one to complete

before meeting at the local pub for libations and refueling.

The holiday weekend was an important one of accomplishment and friendly company.

Oh, yeah, I took advantage of Chrome's Black Friday internet sale, but no other shopping occurred. The only football I saw was inadvertent at the pub.  

Holidays are great when you treat 'em right.