Since my knee has been giving me increasing problems (old cross country injury) making it difficult to get through even 6-9 miles of running let alone the 12+ miles I should be up to, I've had to either take a few days off, or try to get exercise in some other way. I had been going biking with my good friend every once in awhile, but decided to get out on my own today so I could get in more milage.

The biggest pain about my biking/running adventures on my own is that I cannot drive to a given destination (the metroparks/tow path/etc.), so I have to leave from my house and bike/run/whatever down main streets and such in a town where people don't really do that. So of course, feeling like an idiot I biked up the main street past the school systems until I hit the metroparks where I could bike on the many miles of paved trails.

I managed to get in 34 miles including quite a few hills in a 3 hours time. I don't know how that compares to average bike times but give me a break I've just started! I did stop to shoot some photos in places I found interesting and stopped at a Nature Center to eat a snack and use the (flush!) restrooms.

Since I still don't have a job, and have no way of getting around, I've found I've had a lot of time on my hands. I had been interviewing for a librarian position out in Columbus and was actually offered the job, but the combination of not knowing anyone down there + no way to get around besides bus (which would take waaay too long and would not even take me to the park) deterred me. Add to that the fact that I would be away from my boyfriend of 3 years and the early start date (a week to move down to Columbus?) and my mind was pretty made up. The pay was also not very comperable for someone with a Master's degree even at entry level.

Oh well, I've found ways to amuse myself. And I've already made it to the 5th Harry Potter book!

These are just a few sights from my ride :)