Woke this morning to UGH! bad cycling weather news online. But then while making coffee, I saw this out my kitchen window – sun and a patch of clear sky.

Maybe I could get out for a “Star Wars on the bike” ride – a ride with flakes flying by my face like stars flying by Luke’s X-wing fighter.

That got my heart going. I scrammed together a quick breakfast made with German Stollen (Christmas bread/cake), nut butter, soy nog (yup!), homemade cranberry topping, yogurt, dried fruit and honey roasted almonds along with a good blast of cafe au lait.

As soon as I sat down to eat, though, I could see the sky getting fat with clouds. I ate four bites, left my desk like this,…

…got changed and hopped out on the road. Right away, just stepping on the pedals and feeling the wind on my face, my whole attitude changed. What a relief to be moving after a no-ride icy day yesterday.

I stopped to take this picture in Ashland just as the first few flurries fell – and just before my phone decided “we shut down now – too cold”.

The rest of the ride was snowy – or Star Wars’y – enough that I could hear John Williams’ “Star Wars” symphony – along with Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” – in my head. I could also feel the flakes on my face and grit of road sand in my teeth along with the pretzel like taste of road salt on my lips – all just part of the very smiling inducing thrill of the first Star Wars ride of December!