Not a bike ride

It was a day when the Auckland rule was in play. The wind was howling. But the sun was out until, suddenly, just at the moment when I intended to gear up for the ride, there were raindrops on the front window.

It didn't rain hard, and it didn't rain for long.

But the wind howled.

I ignored the Auckland rule and took a lay day.

Instead I went out for a walk. Those are going to be common enough soon and I need to start conditioning for that form of exercise. I found these leaves within walking distance of home.Leaf photos are also going to be common enough soon.

Here is a spot I walk through almost every time I take a winter walk. It looks a lot different now from the way it will look when I am walking there over a giant mound of snow in January.Hockey starts tomorrow.

Those who know us know that this is BIG NEWS.

Let me see, 19 players back from a team that reached the NCAA tournament.

Returning second team All America goaltender, a winner of an Olympic bronze medal in her sport. Some say the best goaltender in the world.

On defense at least three who will be members of their national teams for the next Olympics, including an All America senior and a junior who is so good that it hurts to acknowledge that she is not the best on this year's team. Add in to the three national team players to make a group of four a senior who on some nights is the best of the four. And then add a freshman who may end up being in the end the best of them all.

At forward return intact the top two lines. Bring back from injury the two time captain who was the leading scorer two season ago before missing what should have been her senior season with that injury. Seven of the top nine forwards return even without this extra special come back senior. Add some very highly regarded freshmen including experience as world under 18 championship players.

Hockey starts tomorrow. This should be fun.