Starting to Grow

Last week, I bought an amaryllis bulb, and it is starting to grow quickly.

Riding in Kenosha

Wednesday and Thursday were my days to ride. Have been in Kenosha this week to visit my mom. First, it was a ride on the North Shore Trail.
The trail is the old North Shore commuter line. The trail passes just behind my mom's apartment. Rode from there north into Racine.
The southern end of the trail (also known as the Kenosha County Bicycle Trail) starts at 35th St, between 22nd Ave and 30th Ave. At the county line, it becomes the Racine County Bicycle Trail.
In Kenosha County, the trail surface is crushed stone. In Racine, its asphalt. In Racine, the trail ends it Northward direction at the junction with Root River Pathway. Without a map in my jersey, i did not want to get lost trying to follow the pathway. It disappears into the street at about 16th St.
The county trail heads West toward Sturtevent. Not sure just hoe far. I rode less than a half mile and started back toward Kenosha. A nice 15+ mile ride. As you can see from the above photo, it was a beautiful day for a bike ride.
When i got back, called my Aunt Audrey and we met for lunch at Bonnies Diner before visiting with my mom.

The weather was warming up, so Thursday was a good day to ride along the lake. Starting on the streets for a mile until I picked up the Pike River Trail, At this time, the trail starts at 18th St and Birch Road. Then through Alford Park and on to the Carthage College campus. From there South along the Lake Michigan shore.
There is a break in the trail getting off Simmons Island. Pick it back up at 62nd St. The trail brings you past the Southport Marina to Eichelman Park. The trail ends in the park at 3rd Ave. About 5 miles from Alford Park to Eichelman Park. Another beautiful place to bike on a early summer day.

Silverband Iris

I have been watching this iris growing at Dudley Nurseries all summer and I am impressed. Unlike many irises that fade once they have flowered, Siliverband Iris (Iris ensata 'Silverband') has continued to thrive.
There are other variegated irises in the market, but this one is superior. The other variegated irises have floppy leaves with brown edges and tips this time of year.
Silverband Iris likes part-shade to full sun and gets about knee-high. In June-July, the deep purple flowers appear- and they are gorgeous in contrast with the striped foliage.
I love that 'Silverband' still looks good after it flowers! This picture was taken yesterday at the nursery- every plant is perfect. They would look great in large drifts or as a focal plant (they really light up a shady spot).
This iris has looked good the entire growing season- and that's rare for an iris. This plant is garden-worthy.

Baby Blues

I only snuck a quick peek, only took one picture.
By the time I realized the shot was not exactly in focus, and tried for another, the baby bluebirds had already fledged.

Their father, keeping an eye on the nest.

Dry creek

Even though it rained (yay!) one whole inch (yay! yay!) the day before yesterday, the creek still looks like this... mostly rocks.

The ground was so dry that it sucked up all the excess water like a sponge. Nothing left over to trickle down into the creek. Fish, crawfish, snails, etc., survive only in places where the water pools.
One of the ponds is so low as to be practically non-existent. The Great Blue and Green Herons are constant visitors -- to them it's a treasure trove of little fish with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. (And Red-shouldered hawks seem happy the creek is so low, since they seem to love crawfish dinners.)
The garden loved the rain. I can water and water and water with the hose, but it's just not the same as getting rain. The garden and I had been pretty miffed lately... it was getting on our last nerve to hear the thunder and see the many dark clouds, only to have it all pass by just out of reach. Day after day after day.
But now I have to go pull weeds, or rather, grass, before it gets too hot. Always trade-offs!
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Alabama's governor has asked everyone to pray for rain. I had to roll my eyes. Call me cynical, but I don't see him asking people to pray for our dysfunctional state constitution. (Or to end poverty, stop the pedophiles, achieve world peace, etc.) So why pray for rain?
Those three words (pray for rain, not our dysfunctional constitution) always make me think of Guadalcanal Diary.
Don't call for love
Don't ask for gold
our daily bread
or no more pain
pray for rain
Thinking about Guadalcanal Diary always makes me feel better. Highly recommended for washing the bad taste of politicians out of your mouth.
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Visit the Friday Ark for your weekly dose of crittery goodness.
And don't forget the fantastic latest edition of I and the Bird. (It's Frodo-licious!)

Been Busy

Wondering where I have been? What's going - with no posts recently? I have been busy riding. Logging over 500 miles since I got home from the Southwest.
Also busy framing photos for a photography show. Plans are to bring some of my photos to Greenfield, IA to do a show there. Watch for details.
Last Saturday was Tranquility Tire Tantrum mountain bike race. Took over 550 photos there. You can see (and purchase) photos of the race at http://win-photo.photoreflect.com.
Still working on posting my photos are report of Echo in Arizona trip. That and compiling the photos for a souvenir DVD and conversion to B&W for the newsletter.
Oh, yeh - and 2 Full Moon Rides and a couple evenings of trail work.

Exploring Two Rivers Park

Very early Sunday morning we were treated some thunderstorms rolling though the Little Rock area. It was a cool damp day for most of the day. Sun started out peaking out about 3pm.
Looking at Google Maps and Google Earth, there were some "bicycle" trails in/near the Two Rivers County Park. The trails made a unusual geometry pattern. My friends there did not know was there. Exploration Time!
Drove out to the parking lot at River Mountain Park and Two Rivers Park. This was where I had turned back on my ride Saturday (13 miles from the house). Unloaded the bike and beaded across the Two Rivers Park Bridge (today's photo)/
Lots of folks out for a walk/ride. Brought the trail bike since I did know know what trail surface conditions I would encounter. Temp was in the mid 60s. Sky was partly cloudy. Glad I I dressed in my long sleeve jersey. Cool and the shade, comfortable in the sun.
Once you cross the bridge, you are on the Two Rivers Park Trail. A paved, multi-use trail. Sections are also used by horses, I rode to the end of County Farm Rd.
Close to my goal - finding what the geometric shape is, At the entrance was a sign proclaiming this was the entrance to Quorum Court Trail. The whole area is a labyrinth of trails. Most are paved, but those in the center of the open area were crushed rock. Loose crushed rock - not conducive to ride riding (even on the trial bike).
Basically, I explored the perimeter of the trail area. After all, not much to see. Most of the was an open field of grass with trails cut into.
Headed back to the car. My legs were getting a bit tired from pedaling the trail bike and the long ride I took Saturday.
Hoping to ride today before I pack up and drive to Branson. Then this afternoon - Echo, here I come!

What Constitutes a Necessity?

I saw this list on the web today and found it interesting. They were making the point that lots of things today that we think of as necessities aren't. How many of them do you have?
Some things our grandparents lived without, that are really not necessary:
microwave-*dishwasher-*SUV-*Luxury carfood processor-*smart phoneiPad or other tabletflat-screen TVrefrigerators with ice makers (or perhaps refrigeration at all)-*air conditioning-*central heating-*dryers-*Roombashair dryers-*workout machinesKindletoaster oven
All the items with * by them are the ones I have. The only things I consider to be absolute necessities are air conditioning and a refrigerator. I can't imagine south Georgia in the summer time without them. All the rest are, to me, just conveniences. One other item I consider a necessity which didn't even make the list is a washing machine.
What do you think? What do you consider to be a necessity?

False alarm

Well, the "sunspot" on my face turned out to be nothing. Having already had a skin cancer removed earlier this year, I suppose it always pays to be cautious about these things. There is, however, still a nagging feeling that it was a waste of time, but that's probably a lesser evil than still worrying about it. The most effective means of eliminating these nagging thoughts is to find something else to do, which I promptly did this weekend.

It started with a ride through Currumbin Valley on Saturday morning before seeing the doctor. At one stage in 2005 I was riding here almost every weekend, so it's something of a surprise that it was only the second time I'd ventured this way in 2007. It's always a pretty ride, and I can always find something to keep me amused. I was also reminded here that despite all the fuss made over the "rain" last week, a lot more is needed. Nevertheless, there seemed to be plenty of greenery around, despite the falling creek levels.

Sunday was an opportunity to re-visit one of the Tweed Valley rides that I've almost neglected thus far this year. It almost didn't happen. First I took far too long to get ready, then 3km into the ride I realised I'd left without my trusty Camelbak. At that point I also realised I'd well and truly overdressed for the conditions (which were about 3 degrees warmer than predicted, but a cynic like me should have seen that coming). Fortunately, I quickly pulled myself together and got on with the ride.
In doing so, I found a new strategy for attacking the early steep section on the Tomewin climb (one that I later used on the return via Bilambil) taking advantage of the false flat where the gradient is "only" 8%. Attacks on hills aside, Sunday was a wonderful day to be out. The southerly kept "winter" temperatures down to a reasonable level (I think I only recorded a max of 25 degrees C), and the views over the mountains were as clear as I've ever seen them.

About the only annoyance of the whole weekend was the group of drunken morons who had decided on a bottle smashing contest on one of the dirt roads the evening before, and on a road-blocking contest on the Sunday. I managed to evade them fairly easily as it turned out -- glad of my peak-hour lane-splitting skills. The rest of the ride was, however, very pretty, with the greenery of the surrounds once again evident.


I went through a ritual in the final stretch of setting myself a target "arrival time" for the last 40km or so -- one that seemed impossible at that stage. I then when through he phases of "don't be stupid" (at the bottom of the Bilambil climb), "I might just bloody do it" (at the top of said climb), "Piece of cake" (at the start of the final flat coastal stretch with a tailwind), and finally "well, at least I got close" (after being stopped by the umpteenth red light on the way back). It was an interesting exercise, but a largely pointless one on reflection. Still, it might help in preparation for the Audax season next year.
Right now I'm trying to build everything up to the Scotland tour which is now just 18 days away. In one sense, not going away to the Darling Downs as I'd originally intended was a blow, but in another, I'm glad to have put another imperial century into my legs at the weekend (187km on Sunday's Tweed Valley ride). It's now just a matter of how I fill the remaining two weekends.
I'm considering contacting the Brisbane Bicycle Touring Association about something next weekend, but I'm not sure yet. The ride itself isn't huge, but getting there and back would give me some kilometres, with the added bonus of self-sufficiency. On the other hand, there are several local rides here calling my name. Obviously I have 24 hours to make a decision, and it's all just too hard. Too many rides and not enough weekends.

Through Prospect Park to Museum of Art, and back later

Temple Crag and Third Lake

I hiked to this lake back in July. The area around Big Pine and Bishop (California) is awesome. So many lakes and high mountains...
This body of water, Third Lake, is fed by meltwater from the Palisade Glacier, one of the southern-most glaciers in the United States.

Biking the Cannon Valley Trail

On Tuesday this week we were inRed Wing, MN to bike the Cannon Valley Trail. The day started off wonderfully, with temps in the low 60's and overcast skies but no rain! The last hour of our ride, though, we were accompanied by a heavy drizzle which left us pretty wet by the time we got back to the car. We rode approx. 30 miles that day.


Some sections of the trail were covered in leaves.


There were several nice wooden bridges along the way...


Jessica enjoying the forest scenery along the trail.


Loved this picture-perfect curve with the wooden bridge!

This bridge was pretty impressive.

Taking a break and checking out this cool map of the trail in Welch, the half-way point (roughly) between Red Wing and Cannon Falls.


Beautiful section of trail elevated above the river.


Lots of benches along the way too! We enjoyed a trail snack at this particular bench.


Fun sign at the entrance to someone's driveway that crossed the trail.


Jessica and her Surly Cross-Check enjoying the awesome trail!

Checking out The Trace

After breakfast, it was time to get ready for a bike ride. Gonna be a windy, hot day. Forecast is for winds of 20-30 from the South. Sounds like a ride on the Wabash Trace.
The temperature was rising quickly, so headed to Silver City to ride. Started South down the Trace. Goal was to ride to Malvern or further.
As I pedaled, I could sense that I was not going to make it to Malvern. The trail surface was a bit soft, raising my heart rate and tiring my legs. The new destination was the Silver Creek Bridge. Today's photo was taken of/on the bridge.
I was wearing my hydration pack. Glad I had that as the as the hear and humidity was getting to me. There was NO air moving on the bridge.
After stopping for a few photos and drinking some of my G2, figured that I might as well pedal a little further. When I got to 305th St, I decided that was enough and headed back to Silver City.
The ride back was a little better with the tail wind. But, still taxing. Arrived back to the car exhausted, Car thermometer reads 85 deg. Guzzled the other bottle of G2 on the way home.