Spring has sprung at the Richards' house

Girls' Trip

We went to the women's retreat that was put on by BBC this past weekend. We had a great girls' weekend just me, my mom and mom-in law. It was so nice to spend some good quality time with them. We even had some time to do some power shopping before we came home. Thanks for going with me, Mama Deb! That would have been a very lonely ride without you! We decided we might need to make it a tradition. I actually just unpacked my suitcase a few minutes ago (two days later) :)

Finally!

Finally-- Got some nice frames for my diploma and class picture!
Finally--Got those items in the frames!
Finally--Got my sweet hubby to hang them for me!
Finally--Got one little area of the office that is all mine!

Second day

We decided at the last minute to run to Tuscaloosa and ride at Sokol Park today. We knew they had several trails that should be great. We pulled up and were getting out all the gear when another rider asked us if we had ever ridden here before. I guess we did not look experienced. haha oh well! He told us he had just taken a path that would be good for us and had just finished re-marking it for an upcoming event. He even gave us his personal map which was a little different from the one we had printed at home. So we loaded up and headed out. Here are our before pics:




We headed out on a simple dirt path thinking that this would be so much fun and we could totally handle it. Ha! WRONG!!! This path was INSANE!!!!I don't know how people ride that thing. At times it was extremely windy and narrow!

This was when we had just started out:

This was the scariest part of the trail. Can you see the fear on my face :) needless to say, I walked my bike through this part (well, I walked my bike through ALOT of the trail)

Come on guys! We can do this:


After we finally found the truck again (thank goodness we were following the marked trail or we would probably still be in those woods!), we decided we were starving so we headed to Newks and got some lunch/supper and took it and had a picnic on Bama's campus.


We then got back on the bikes (even though our backsides were protesting loudly)and road around the campus. It was so nice and much more on our skill levels. Here are some pictures of us in front of the stadium. So nice to actually get to see the campus without the crowds we usually fight on game days.




We finally made it back home. It was sooo nice to shower and get that outdoor, sweaty, dirty smell off. Haha! I think we will def be feeling this tomorrow! Probably going to need a hot bubble bath.

First Ride

So we went on our first ride on Friday afternoon. Jim had to work but Tara was able to go with me and Stephen. We started at the Blakes house and road downtown to the riverwalk and rode about 5 miles. I literally thought I would die after the first mile but by the time we got to the river my legs started getting better. It is such a beautiful place to ride and great trails. We went back to the Blakes and took a break until Jim got home then we set out and did the same path again. We were so proud of ourselves that we actually made it 10 miles on our first day! Our legs and butts were KILLING us!!!

The riverwalk:


Before the ride:

Sad Face

This is what I found when I came into the house after work today. So sad! The bikes are just sitting there begging to be riden:

This is the forecast for the next few days. Come on weather!!! It was perfect last week. Now we just have to wait for some decent weather so we can get out there and ride!! Please!! We need warm, sunny and not so windy weather!!!!

Our New Hobby

So we have been talking about buying bikes for several months now. My wonderful/fabulous parents (Hey mom and dad!!!) have been into cycling for awhile now. Love to meet them for a weekend but hate to see them hop on their bikes and take off and leave us behind. We both have been trying to be more active and our knees will only allow so much. Yes, I know we are only 26 but we each have knees that are older than that. So we had been talking to the rents about bikes and what we would like to get when we had the extra funds to put into this. I had explained to Stephen that if I did this, we were going to do it right. I did not want to get a cheap bike that would not be comfortable to ride and end up sitting there and us never using it. Our friends/partners in crime, the Blakes also decided to get bikes. So after a little research and help from our all knowing resource, Dad, we headed out today after church to do some shopping. We took the truck, you know, just in case. We found exactly what we have been wanting and they were both on SALE! Cha-ching! Load them up! So after looking at everything in the store and riding around the bike section this is what we decided on. We then tried on all the helmets. Of course Tara and I were trying to match them to the bikes and to the potential outfits we would be wearing while riding. We then headed over to the rest of the accessories and got a few more essentials like the wonderful padded bike shorts. Yes! We did get some. But don't worry, I will be wearing regular shorts over them. Sorry, I just cant wear them by themselves. After dropping a chunk of change we all loaded up and came home. We were hoping to head to the river tomorrow after work to ride some but I think it may be too cold. What happened to our nice warm/sunny weather? Hope it comes back soon because our bikes are sitting here begging to be ridden. You will have to check back later this week. Ill try to get a few pictures if we get to ride at the river at sunset. We have talked about packing a picnic and going there for supper if the weather ever decides to cooperate.