I got out for a good solid 3ish hours solo after work today, first "real" ride of the year I'd say, and quite nice temperature wise until the last half hour as the sun was setting. Stopped in Cobourg for a nibble, went up to Roseneath and after a stop there toured around, came back along Rice lake scenic drive, through Gores Landing and across the backroads towards home.
It was that first ride of the year when I was reminded of many of the things I love about riding. Passing through little towns, kids waving at you, two guys shooting the **** gave me a beer bottle lift-salute from a driveway as I passed, the smell of people burning freshly raked leaves, the smell of someones campfire, passed a farmers field that was being tilled and that awesome deep earthy smell, freshly spread manure at one point (hey, it's a country thing, and it signals spring lol), and then that "golden hour" smell that comes out of the forest about a half hour before sunset - not sure if there's a name for that (it's kinda like Petrichor but without the rain), but all of those are smells that I loved as a kid who was raised to love the outdoors, and they still all hit home.
Given all the insanity recently, it was some true wind therapy.